Chapter 81 Moving Day
CAITLYN'S POV
I was reading one of the baby books when Jason came into the room. His face was serious and he had his gun on his hip.
"We need to leave," he said. "Right now."
"What?" I asked. "Why? What happened?"
"Rourke just called," Jason said. "Collin found this place. He is coming for you. We need to go."
My heart started racing. "How did he find us?"
"Someone talked," Jason said. "One of the guys who brought supplies. Collin paid him off."
"Oh god," I said. I felt like I was going to be sick.
"Pack a bag," Jason said. "Just the essentials. We need to be out of here in thirty minutes."
"Thirty minutes?" I said. "That is not much time."
"I know," Jason said. "But it is all we have. Collin could already be on his way."
I got up and went to the bedroom. Started throwing clothes into a bag. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely zip it closed.
"What about the nursery stuff?" I asked. "The bassinet and the baby clothes?"
"Leave it," Jason said. "We can replace all of that. Right now we just need to go."
I looked at the corner where we had set up the nursery. All the things we had carefully arranged. The tiny clothes we had folded. The mobile hangs over where the baby would sleep.
It felt wrong to leave it all behind. Like we were abandoning something important.
"Caitlyn," Jason said. "We have to go. Now."
"Okay," I said. "I am ready."
We grabbed our bags and went outside. Jason's motorcycle was parked near the cabin. He helped me get behind him.
"Hold on tight," Jason said. "We are going to move fast."
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Rourke found us a new place," Jason said. "Even more remote than this one. No one will find us there."
"That is what you said about this place," I reminded him.
"I know," Jason said. "But this time it will be different. This time no one is going to know where we are except Rourke."
He started the bike and we took off down the dirt road. I held on to him as tight as I could. My pregnant belly made it awkward but I managed.
We drove for what felt like forever. Through back roads and small towns. Past farms and fields. The landscape kept changing. Getting more rural. More isolated.
"How much further?" I yelled over the sound of the engine.
"About an hour," Jason yelled back.
An hour. I did not know if I could hold on for an hour. My back was already hurting and the baby was kicking like crazy.
But I did not have a choice. I had to hold on. Had to make it to the new safe house. Had to keep running.
We finally pulled up to a cabin that looked even smaller than the last one. It was surrounded by trees and there was no other house in sight.
"This is it," Jason said.
"It looks abandoned," I said.
"That is the point," Jason said. "No one will think to look for us here."
We went inside and the cabin was basic. One bedroom. Small kitchen. Living room with an old couch. But it was clean and there were supplies everywhere.
"Rourke stocked it for us," Jason said. "We should have enough food for at least a month."
"A month," I repeated. "We have to stay here for a month?"
"At least," Jason said. "Maybe longer depending on when the trial is."
I sat down on the couch and put my head in my hands. "I cannot do this anymore Jason. I cannot keep running. I cannot keep living like this."
"I know," Jason said. He sat next to me and put his arm around me. "I know this is hard. But we do not have a choice. This is the only way to keep you safe."
"What if we never stop running?" I asked. "What if Collin never stops hunting me?"
"He will stop," Jason said. "Once he goes to trial and gets convicted he will be in prison for life. Then this will all be over."
"When is the trial?" I asked.
"Six weeks," Jason said. "That is all we have to get through. Six weeks and then you can testify and put him away forever."
"Six weeks," I said. "That feels like forever."
"It will go faster than you think," Jason said. "And I will be here with you the whole time."
"What if something happens to you?" I asked. "What if Collin finds us and hurts you?"
"He is not going to find us," Jason said. "And even if he does I am not going to let him hurt you or the baby."
"You cannot promise that," I said.
"Yes I can," Jason said. "Because I will die before I let him touch you again."
"That is exactly what I am afraid of," I said. "You're dying because of me."
"I am not going to die," Jason said. "We are both going to be fine. We just have to stay hidden for a little while longer."
I looked around the cabin. At the bare walls and the old furniture. This was going to be my home for the next six weeks. Maybe longer.
"I hate this," I said. "I hate feeling like a prisoner. Like I cannot go anywhere or do anything."
"I know," Jason said. "But remember what we talked about. This is temporary. Soon you will be free to go wherever you want and do whatever you want."
"I just want a normal life," I said. "Is that too much to ask?"
"No," Jason said. "It is not too much to ask. And you will have it. I promise."
I wanted to believe him. Wanted to trust that everything would work out. But it was hard to have hope when everything kept going wrong.
"What if the baby comes early?" I asked. "What if I go into labor here?"
"Then we will deal with it," Jason said. "I have medical supplies. I can help deliver the baby if I have to."
"You do not know how to deliver a baby," I said.
"I can learn," Jason said. "There are books. Videos. I will figure it out."
"That is not reassuring," I said.
"Okay then we will make sure you do not go into labor early," Jason said. "You will rest and take care of yourself and the baby will wait until we can get you to a hospital."
"Babies do not wait," I said. "They come when they want to come."
"Then we will be ready," Jason said. "Whatever happens we will handle it."
I leaned against him and closed my eyes. I was so tired. Tired of being scared. Tired of running. Tired of everything.
"Try to rest," Jason said. "You have been through a lot today."
"I do not think I can rest," I said. "Every time I close my eyes I see Collin. I hear his voice. I feel his hands on me."
"He is not here," Jason said. "He cannot hurt you anymore."
"But he is still out there," I said. "Still looking for me. Still planning to kill me."
"Not for long," Jason said. "Rourke is
Going to catch him. He is going to make sure Collin goes away forever."
"I hope you are right," I said.
"I am right," Jason said. "Trust me."