Rose with a Thorn

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I must’ve fallen asleep again. When I opened my eyes, it was pitch black outside on the highway. The compass on the screen still said we were moving West, so I knew it wasn’t a trap. My neck felt stiff, and I desperately wanted to stretch my legs.

“Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty.”

I groaned hearing Brandon’s voice in my ears. “Where are we?”

“Oh, nowhere and somewhere. You've been asleep almost 10 hours... it’s 2 in the morning.”

“WHAT!” I screamed. “No, that can’t be. Why didn’t you wake me? Ugh, my neck and legs hurt.”

Brandon laughed at me. His voice was deep and sexy. “You have, little flower. I stopped once to use the washroom, but you wouldn’t budge. Are you hungry? Thirsty? I bought donuts and coffee to go.”

“Honestly, I'd really love to get out and stretch. Can we stop, please?”

“Sure, we can stop at the next exit.”

I tried my best to stretch out my neck and arms. I didn’t normally like coffee, but damn did it ever smell good right now. On top of the dash was a big box and a little box.

“I wasn’t sure if you liked donuts or Timbits, so I got both. Help yourself, you need to eat something.”

“I’m pretty sure sugar isn’t one of the main food groups. Are you trying to make me fat?”

The most beautiful smile I had ever seen lit up Brandon’s face as he laughed. “You’re right, but I know how much you love your sweets. And I know for a fact you’re not going to turn down a box of delicious donuts, no matter what time of day it is.”

Just then my stomach grumbled, and I burst out laughing. How did he know such a small thing about me? I took the big box off the dash and looked inside.

Mm, chocolate dip and sour cream glazed... my favorite. I wasted no time taking one in each hand and shoving one in my mouth after the other. I rolled my eyes and moaned. This was the best thing I've eaten in a month.

“Don’t do that.”

I looked at Brandon and saw him peaking at me with lust filled eyes. I gulped down the bite I just took and gave him a shy smile before looking away. “Sorry.” I said.

I continued eating, paying no more attention to him but kept my noises under control. I saw a sign for the next exit, eagerly jumping up and down in the seat pointing towards it.

“Yeah, yeah, I see it. Sit still energizer bunny. We'll be there shortly.”

10 minutes later we pulled into the EnRoute. Thank God these things are always open. I ran straight to the bathroom, relieving myself with a sigh. When I came out of the stall, I washed and dried my face off. How on earth did I just sleep in that car for 10 hours straight, with someone who was supposed to be a complete stranger. When I came out, I saw Brandon in line at Tim Horton’s again and made my way over.

“Hello Beauty, feel better?”

“Yes. Can we get some water this time? My body needs it.”

“Of course. Here, take the keys and get in the car. I'll be there in a minute.”

I grabbed the keys from him and walked out into the fresh air with a smile on my face. 2 in the morning was such a beautiful time to be out. The stars in the sky looked amazing twinkling up there, right where they belong.

Even stars had a place in the universe to call home. The smile dropped from my face, realizing I didn’t have a home anymore. I guess I never really did. I felt like my whole life had been a lie.

My biological parents weren’t dead, my surrogate father never truly wanted me, the only woman I've known as a mother is probably devastated that I was gone and haven’t been in contact with her. It had been almost 2 months since I left Miranda.

She would be livid if she knew I was running away from someone she loved so much, but was dangerous to her and the rest of her family. She’d be even more upset if she knew I was running around with Brandon, considering I didn’t know anything about him except that he worked for her husband.

I decided I needed to learn as much about Brandon as I could. Starting with his age! He kept hitting on me and saying things that gave my stomach knots. And more than once I felt something in my pants from the sound of his voice or laughter.

Speaking of the devil, he climbed in next to me. “So, I got you a few water bottles since we’re not going to be stopping again for a while. Keith gave us until midday today before I have to turn around, which I have no intention of doing, by the way.”

“What are you going to do about the tracker?”

“Don’t worry, I found it. When he calls at noon to check in, I’m going to stick it on a truck or something heading back towards him.”

I slumped in the seat in relief. I didn’t realize how anxious I was that we were actually going to turn around now that we’ve gotten so far away. “Alright, well we better get going. Best to put as much space between him and us as we can.”

Brandon nodded his head, and we resumed our journey. I was too worked up to close my eyes for any more rest, so I figured it was the perfect opportunity to ask some questions. At least he couldn’t run away from me.

“Uh, I have some questions...” I wasn’t sure if he’d actually let me ask or be open to being honest with me. But I needed to know some more details before I could trust him completely.

“Go ahead.”

“What’s your name?”

He looked at me like I had three heads. “Brandon. Any more dumb questions?”

“Ha ha, very funny. I meant your whole name.”

“I think it’s best if you don’t know that yet. I know you want to trust me, but I need to protect my identity for both our sakes.”

“Okay, fine. That's fair. How old are you?”

“I just turned 22.”

My jaw dropped. 22 years old and he has probably murdered thousands of people. Also, how did he get so good doing whatever he does when he’s still so young? Maybe I didn’t want to know that answer.

“Do you have a family? Any sisters or brothers? Pets?”

“My family... they were killed. It's just me.”

“Oh, wow... I'm so sorry.”

“Don’t feel sorry for me, little flower. I wouldn’t be where I am right now, with you, if things didn’t happen this way.”

“Where are we going?”

“Anywhere out of reach of Keith and his men.”

“Aren’t you one of his men? How did you get involved with him?”

“I’m a contract worker, but Keith pays me better than anyone else I've worked for. He found me. I don’t know how, probably through my connection with Michael.”

“Are you friends with Michael?”

There was a long pause. I didn’t understand why Brandon came to the house and was keeping me safe, especially when I first met him, he didn’t seem to like anyone in the room, including Michael.

“Michael used to be my mentor when I was a kid. I owe him and Rachelle a great deal. They took me in because they had been looking for you for so long and felt like they’d never find you. So, it helped them to help me. And I was just a loser kid that lost his family and had no one else, so I let them. When Keith sought out Michael, he felt like he needed back up. What he didn’t realize was that I was sneaking out and breaking the law long before anything happened with Keith. I did it under both their noses. For a while I regretted never letting your parents in, but I think Michael always knew and that’s why he asked me. Keith had already heard of me and my reputation, so he didn’t put up a fight. And then we heard about you, and everything changed.”

“What do you mean?”

“Michael wanted to do everything he could to keep you safe, so he asked me to get closer to Keith so I would be the sole person keeping eyes on you eventually. I watched you get bullied and harassed, and I had to sit there and do nothing. I reported what I thought necessary to Keith, but I reported everything to Michael. We needed a plan to get you back safe and sound. We worked together in the shadows to get you to safety, and I was waiting for Michael to call when you were ready to leave your folks. I don’t mean to freak you out by saying this, but I was never far away from you. At any given time. You would always have been safe.”

I felt tears in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall this time. My whole life I thought not one person truly cared about me. But here Brandon was telling me about him and Michael’s plans before I was ever kidn*pped.

“If you knew where I was, why didn’t you just tell Michael and you both come to get me?” I turned to look back at him, so he could see the pain this all caused me. Tears started silently dripping down my cheeks.

“We needed to have perfect timing. If we came too soon or gave ourselves away, we would all be dead. I don’t think Keith would have hesitated to kill any of us. Neither of us would have been okay with that happening, not when you are still so young and have no life experience. This was the best we could do.”

“So, what happens now? Will I ever see Michael and Rachelle again? And what about you and me, you can’t hang up your life and go on the run with me.”

Brandon smirked at me. I could see the wheels in his head turning from here. “Actually... that’s exactly what I plan on doing. We'll keep moving if we have to. I will always keep you safe, little flower. And when everything gets settled, maybe we can arrange for Michael to come along with us. I know Rachelle is your birth mother, but something about her has never sat right with me and I don’t trust her. I never have. But I know Michael would never betray you.”

My stomach decided it was hungry and growled. Brandon laughed. “Let’s stop to feed the beast some real food, okay? We need to send the tracker back towards Keith anyways.”