Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 23860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
When I spot my bag sitting over in the corner, I wonder if I should make a run for it. I’m supposed to be getting out of town, and I need to get as much distance as possible between my mom and me. She’ll create a manhunt to find me once she realizes I’m gone. She has the money to do so, but I don’t think she’ll go to the police. She’ll hire someone privately.
Mom has always been a bit funny about the police. I was even given a long talk more than once on how I was to never speak to them. Not even to give my name.
When I try to get up from the bed, I realize I’m connected to a million things. I peel the sticky things off my chest and use the IV stand to help me sit up slowly. When I get up, I keep hold on the pole and the side of the bed as I shuffle my feet.
“What the hell are you doing?” My new husband rushes over. “Get back in bed.” I don’t get the chance to do as he tells me before his hands slide under me and he easily puts me back in bed. “What are you trying to do?”
“Is that my bag?” I point at it.
“Do you need something out of it?”
I was going to say my phone, but I catch myself. I shouldn't know what’s in my bag if I’m pretending not to remember anything. Still, I need to at least turn the cell phone off.
“I thought it might remind me of something. Like your name?”
“Phillip.”
“Phillip,” I repeat. “Now what, Phillip?” What is his plan?
“Let the doctor clear you and then we’ll head home.”
“Home?”
“We’ll go to the penthouse tonight. It’s closer.”
“How many houses do you have?”
“Two.” He smirks. “In this state.”
“In this state?” I laugh. “Which house is my favorite?”
“We only recently got married. I think you’ll need time to pick a favorite.” I start to ask him another question because I’m enjoying pretending with him, but the doctor comes in.
“Mr. Howard is saying you can’t remember anything.” I nod. “Hmm.” He pulls a flashlight out to look into my eyes. I try to listen to him talk, but my attention keeps going back to Phillip.
I don’t get to ask him any more questions. Too many people are coming and going from the room, and then it’s time for us to leave.
“Can I have my bag?” I ask when Phillip helps me in the wheelchair to push me out of the hospital. He hands it over, and I peek inside to where I put my cell phone but it’s not there.
“Looking for something?” Phillip asks, and I shake my head no. “Good, everything you need will be at home.”
I nod. This is either the perfect escape or…well, I don’t want to think about the alternative. That would only make my mother right. I’m not meant for the rest of the world.
Chapter Four
Chapter 4 Phillip
She knows something’s up. That’s the feeling I get when we leave the hospital, and I can’t seem to shake it the whole way to the penthouse. It could be the way she’s watching me or the way she keeps trying to pretend that she’s not looking for her phone.
Good luck with that. I already snuck it out of her bag before she could wake up. I’m sure she won’t need it, and there’s no need for her to call for help. Or try to leave me. I never thought I’d be capable of kidnapping anyone, but here we are.
“Home sweet home,” I say as the elevator doors open and reveal the foyer of the penthouse. After I enter the code, we step inside, and she wobbles a little on her feet. “Come on, let’s get you comfortable.”
“It’s beautiful,” Audrey says mostly to herself as I practically carry her over to the couch and then tuck some blankets around her when she sits.
“In case you don’t remember, you can change anything you don’t like.” I’m testing the waters to see what kind of response I get from her as I put extra pillows behind her head.
“Oh, yes, of course.” She smiles up at me when she lies back comfortably. “Thank you.”
“Sit back and relax. I had the chef prepare some soup for you. It’s your favorite.”
“Chicken noodle?” I want to laugh when she says it like a question.
“Exactly.” The smile I give her is genuine because I am loving this game. Does this make me a monster? It’s best not to answer that and instead focus on how much fun I’m having. “I’ll go and get it.”
When I check the oven, I see he’s left four different kinds. Broccoli cheddar, tomato, French onion, and of course chicken soup. I pull the chicken soup out and spoon it into a bowl for her. After that, I grab some of the crusty bread he made and get her a glass of milk. Thankfully, I overheard her tell the doctor she doesn’t have any allergies, and she needs all the calories she can get. When I saw her arms and legs in the hospital gown, she was so thin it made me angry.