Someone To Run To

Chapter 2

    "He found me," she whispered fearfully. She didn't mean to say it out loud, but as scared as she felt she did not care who heard her.

    "Who found you?" Alan questioned. He wanted to know. Whoever it was, if he got the chance, was going to kill her right there in front of him. Plus, he might injure a dozen more.

    Gina opened her mouth to speak but didn't get the chance to answer. The sounds of gunshots and shattering glass interrupted the peaceful atmosphere of the diner. A choir of screams followed. Gina jumped from her chair, covering her head with her arms. Instinctively, Alan sprang from his chair and tackled her, landing on top of her on the floor. The gesture surprised her, and when they landed, it felt as if she had been punched in the stomach.

        Alan rolled off her immediately. He looked around. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at them. The other patrons were down on the floor as well. He turned his attention to Gina as she started coughing and he helped her sit up. They were only inches apart. He stared at her blankly.

    "Forgive me. Are you okay?" he asked with concern in his voice. He hadn't meant to knock her so forcefully to the floor. He knew it had to hurt, but she would have gotten shot standing up as she did. It was not very smart on her part.

    "I-I'm fine." She clung to his shirt for a moment just to have something to hold on to, to catch her breath, and prevent herself from falling back on the floor. "Forgive you for what?" Gina asked incredulously. "Saving my life?"

     He smiled and shrugged. "I guess so." In this town, he was used to getting accused of trying to hurt people. He figured she would not be any different.

    George, who had ducked and covered along with the rest of the diner's customers, crawled over to Alan and Gina. He laid his hand on Alan's arm and Alan turned sharply in George's direction.

"Was the shot meant for you you, sir?"

    Alan sighed. "George, how many times have I told you not to call me 'sir'? It's Alan or Mr. Collins. And no, the shot was meant for this young lady." He turned to Gina. "Are you sure you're alright?"

    She had finally let go of him and was holding her stomach with one hand and rubbing her arm with the other her face full of shock. She stopped when she realized his eyes were on her again.

    "I'm fine," she lied.

    Gina didn't want to tell him the truth. When he tackled her, it felt like her whole body had been set on fire. Her muscles were tired and achy from walking for so long and Jack had left bruises on her the size of Texas. He was always careful to make them in places no one would see but him. He assaulted her stomach, which she was too modest to display, and her upper arms. She had always worn long sleeves because he kept it so cold in the house.

    "Okay," he said. "It looked like it might have twinged a bit."

    "No. I'm fine."

    "Good. Glad to hear it."

    Customers from the diner slowly got up and a few of them fled the scene once they thought it was safe. Gina started to get up as well, but Alan grabbed her arm.

    "Not yet," he said firmly.

    Gina gulped. He had an iron grip. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he let go instantly. This young woman was troubled. He could tell someone had been very cruel to her.

     "Why?" she asked, relieved he had let go of her arm.

    "I don't think he's finished."

    "You don't know."

    "You don't know he is," Alan argued. He sighed. "If he's shooting at you, he probably wants to kill you, am I correct?"

    She licked her lips nervously. "Yes."

    "Then the first one was a warning shot."

    She raised an eyebrow at him. "How do you know?"

    He smiled wryly. "Experience."

    He rose above the table about an inch, focused on the broken window. The shooter was probably not too far away. He looked at the rooftops of every building, but he didn't see anyone. He ducked back down.

    "I don't see anyone," he reported.

    Gina sighed. She didn't want to stay there on the floor forever. She took a deep breath and summoned all the courage she owned. "Let me have a look."

    He tried to stop her, but she popped up over the table, just as Alan had before he could. Instantly, the shooting began again. She screamed and he pulled her back down. Alan took her protectively in his arms and wrapped them around her, sheltering her the best he could. He winced as he felt something hot and painful penetrate the skin on his arm, but he didn't cry out. He didn't want to alarm her. Thankful for his help, Gina buried her face in his chest. After six shots, the shooting suddenly stopped.

    "He's going to kill me!" Gina cried. She grabbed onto Alan's shirt again. She didn't know the man holding her in his arms, but at this point and time, she did not care. He was there and she was petrified.

    He held her tighter. "No. He's not going to get the chance." He turned to George, who was still huddled next to them. "Get the car ready."

    George stared at him like he had lost his marbles. "Sir?"

    Alan gritted his teeth. He had called him 'sir' again. "You heard me. Get the car. We're leaving."

    "Yes, sir."

     He shook his head. "I swear I wouldn't trade that kid for anything in the world. He's a good worker, but if he calls me 'sir' again, I'm going to strangle him."

    Gina swallowed hard ignoring his rant. "I-Is it safe?"

    "No. I'm taking you out of here."

    She raised. "What?"

    "I'm taking you out of here," Alan repeated. "Someplace safe."

    She shook her head. "No. I can't. You can't- He might kill you."

    He smiled smugly. "He might try. But if he gets to me once we get into my house, not even the government can stop him."

    She frowned, wondering what he meant.

    "Will you go with me, Gina?"

    Gina's whole body was shaking with fear. If she went with him, and Amy had been telling the truth, this man was some kind of psycho killer, and she was going to die. If she didn't go with him, Jack or his goons would find her and she was going to die anyway. Either way, she lost. She didn't have a whole lot of choices. Then she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. There was a blob of something crimson that had darkened the upper part of Alan's arm. Her first thought was he had been shot.

    "You're bleeding."

    He stared at her. "What?"

    She reached up and touched his arm. He winced a little and then examined the place himself. She was right. He was bleeding. In all the chaos, he had forgotten about the pain he felt earlier.

    "I'll go with you," she whispered.

    "Alright then," Alan said. He pushed the wound out of his mind for now. He gripped her hand tightly.      "When George pulls up to the door, I want you to hold onto my hand. Whatever you do, don't let go."

    "What about your arm?"

    "Don't worry. It will be taken care of when we get back to the house."

    Did she want to do this? Could she? He was being awfully kind to a stranger he met a little over five minutes ago. Her answer was out of her mouth before she could stop it.

    "Okay."

    His eyes widened for a split second as if surprised she accepted. Gina said a little prayer as she held onto Alan's hand for dear life.

    The black limo pulled up onto the sidewalk in front of the entrance to the small diner. George put his foot on the brake to hold it there. He didn't want to take the chance of putting it in park. It would take too long to take off if the shooter became active again.

    "Gina, when I go I want you to come right behind me. My body will shield you. Don't let one inch of yourself be exposed. Do you understand?"

    She nodded. She didn't want him to get hurt, but she was glad he was taking charge and willing to protect her. She had never had a man do anything like this for her before. She had never had anyone do it for her.

    Alan saw the opportunity and bolted for the door, hanging onto Gina as tightly as he could. She ran along behind him just as he had asked her to. Shots were fired the moment they got to their feet and they didn't stop coming even after the two of them had made it to the backseat of the limo.

    "Drive!" Alan commanded.

    George knew what he meant. Drive and fast. He stomped on the accelerator.

    "Where to?" George asked once they were safely on the road.

    "Home," Alan answered breathlessly. He hadn't been in a situation like this in a long time. He wasn't used to it anymore.

    Gina could hardly catch her breath in the seat next to him. She glanced at his profile. If it hadn't been for the man next to her, she would have been dead back there. The hunger pains she experienced earlier were gone for the moment. All she could think about now was the destination ahead. She prayed silently the man who had just saved her life was different from the man Amy had described. If not, she would die soon. At least Jack wouldn't get the satisfaction of killing her.

    The drive from the diner to Alan's house seemed to take forever. Silence had fallen between them and it hovered there the entire way. Gina dozed in and out of consciousness, trying to expel the tired and achy feeling her body insisted on reminding her about every chance it got.

    Alan watched her curiously out of the corner of his eye. She was terrified. It was painfully obvious. He didn't usually invite anyone back to his house. He knew the sheriff would be paying a visit soon, especially if Amy told him what happened. John Harmon always found his way to Alan's door when there was a new guest. He insisted on warning him he would catch him eventually. All Alan ever did was roll his eyes and laugh.

    "Catch me if you can," he usually taunted.

    Of course, there would never be any reason to arrest him because he would never hurt anyone.

    George stopped the car at the gates and pressed the button on the intercom. "It's me and the boss," he said.

    Automatically, the wrought iron gates opened and he drove in. He parked in the usual spot when they made it up to the house. It was about a half-mile from the gate. He sighed in relief. He got out of the car and opened the driver's side door in the back. Alan stepped out and silently walked over to the passenger's side. Gina was laid over to the side a little.

    "George, get the door for me, will you?"

    "Aren't you going to wake her?" George asked.

    "No. I don't want to disturb her rest. She looks like she's been through a lot, though I would have never told her as much. I'm going to carry her in."

    George nodded and ran up ahead.

    Alan bent down and scooped Gina up in his arms. Her head lulled to the side against his chest. She was as light as a feather, just as he expected. She was skinny and pale. It was evident she hadn't eaten much in the last few days, possibly the last few months. He held her there in his arms for a moment to make sure he had a good grip on her and then continued into the house.

    George was waiting for him, holding the front door open so he could get through. He followed his boss in and closed the door behind him.

    An older woman with her hair in a tight bun hurried forward from the hall. The sound of the door shutting caught her attention immediately. She knew her boss and his driver had not left long ago. It was too early for them to be back already, wasn't it? She was wearing a stern expression on her face and eyed Alan suspiciously as he walked toward her. He was her boss, but it didn't mean she had to approve of the things he did. One thing she most certainly did not condone was the fact that he was always bringing strange women home with him.

    "Greetings, Mr. Collins. Who is this you're carrying?"

    "Gina Turner. She needed my help."

    She rolled her eyes. She had a British accent just like Alan's. "What sort of trouble is this one in?"

    "Big trouble," Alan answered with a grunt. He adjusted Gina carefully in his arms. He wasn't used to carrying people anymore, at least not a long way. He continued down the hall, stepping past the old woman.

    "You're very descriptive," she commented sarcastically. She trailed after him, determined to make him listen to reason this time. "She's just going to cause you more heartbreak."

    "Maggie, open the door to the bedroom past the staircase and please shut up," he growled. He hated that she was always mothering him. She needed to let him worry about things. She was nearing eighty years old. If she put a whole lot of stress on her heart she was going to end up either having a stroke or a heart attack.

    Maggie glared at him, placing her hands on her hips. She stepped in front of him. Alan stopped and glanced down, sighing heavily. He knew he had gone too far.

    "I may be old," she said haughtily, "but I am wise. You should listen to me, Alan. Let her rest here until she wakes up and then let her go."

    "I can't."

    She shot him an indignant look.

    "I'm sorry," he apologized. "Will you please just open the door to the guest bedroom?"

    She nodded curtly. "Of course, Mr. Collins."

    He smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Maggie."

    "Don't thank me. It's your life you're ruining."

    Maggie spun on her heels and rushed ahead of him. The door to the guest bedroom was wide open when he got there and the bed had already been turned down. All he had to do was slip Gina into it. He walked over to the bed and laid her down gently. He covered her up like his mother used to do him when he was little and tucked her in.

    "Stay with her, Maggie," Alan told her.

    "I will do no such," she told him. "I refuse to babysit a woman I know will betray you in the end."

    Maggie left the room immediately. Alan knew it was stupid to go after her. She was upset and until she calmed down, there was no reasoning with the stubborn old woman. He sighed and glanced over at Gina. She would probably feel more comfortable with someone a little more her own age anyway. He picked up the phone on the bedside table and pressed in the housekeeping extension. It rang a few times before anyone answered. He knew everyone was busily attending to their daily duties.

    "Housekeeping," a voice answered on the other end.

    Alan recognized the voice right away. "Grace."

    "Mr. Collins?" she asked in surprise. "I thought you and George were in town."

    "We had to leave unexpectedly," he explained. "Listen, I need you to come down to the guest bedroom on the first floor for me. I want you to sit with someone until she wakes up. You're not to leave her side for a second. Do you understand?"

    Grace suddenly got very nervous. "Yes, sir. I'll be down in a few minutes."

    "I will greet you when you get here."

    Alan hung up the phone and took a deep breath. He knew he was going to be given a hard time by his staff once they all figured out he had brought another one home. How could he not help her? She was being hunted by someone, someone who wanted her dead. He had the skills and the means to protect her. Why not do all he could to make sure she was safe?

    He sat down on the side of the bed lightly. Gina looked extremely peaceful. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

    Grace made it down to the bedroom in five minutes flat. It was impressive given the size of his place. "I'm here, Mr. Collins," she announced breathlessly.

    Alan turned from Gina and smiled. He got up off the bed. "Grace, you know what to do."

    She nodded. "Yes, sir."

    He stared at her sternly.

    She swallowed nervously. "I mean, Mr. Collins."

    He smiled. "Thank you."

    "Mr. Collins?"

    "Yes?"

    "Do you realize you're bleeding?"

    He looked down at his arm. He had almost forgotten the wound was even there. "Right. Yes. I'm going to go pay a visit to Maggie. If she's not too mad at me, maybe she'll patch me up."

    He took one last look at Gina and then headed out the door. He took comfort in knowing she was at least safe for now.