Broken Innocence by Andi Rhodes

Author:Andi Rhodes [Rhodes, Andi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-05T16:00:00+00:00

19

Brie

“Thanks, Scott,” I said as I walked through the gym door he held for me.

“No problem, Brie. See you tomorrow night.”

Scott, the owner of the gym, had been letting me come in and workout after hours. He’d been working with me on my self-defense techniques. There had been a time when I’d taught self-defense classes, but my confidence had left me after being held captive, and Scott was helping me to build it back up.

I’d been in New York for a month, and every day got a little easier. Sure, I always felt like I was being watched, but I’d pushed past the terror that caused. I missed Indiana and the BRB and spent a lot of time reminding myself why I left. Despite honing my fighting skills and now being able to hold a conversation with someone, I knew I would never be the woman they wanted back. The woman Griffin thought he loved.

As I walked to Chaos, the sensation of being watched prickled along my spine. I picked up my pace as I reached a hand into the gym bag slung over my shoulder and palmed my gun. I didn’t draw it out, but let it rest in my hand in an effort to bring me some measure of safety. It helped and I was able to make it the entire way to my bike without looking over my shoulder.

Before straddling Chaos, I stuck my pistol in the waistband of my jeans. I didn’t want it to be too far out of reach while I drove. There were times, like this, when I wished I had the BRB as backup. But I forced myself to quickly move past those times because it’d been my choice to leave.

So far, my decision had worked out the way I’d hoped. I missed everyone like crazy, but it was easier for me to deal with my shit without them breathing down my neck. Without Griffin’s declarations of love. Without the guilt.

I drove the short distance to the one-bedroom flat I’d rented two weeks ago. It was only a few blocks away, within walking distance, but I still didn’t feel comfortable out alone at night. I parked Chaos in the parking garage across the street from my building. I scanned my surroundings and didn’t notice anything that would cause my unease.

“You’re imagining things.” I wiped my sweaty palms down the length of my thighs.

I raced to the industrial apartment building, and when I crossed the threshold into the small space that was now my home, I slammed the door behind me and flipped the lock. The breath I’d been holding whooshed out of me at the sharp click of the deadbolt sliding into place.

I stared at the empty room, and sadness washed over me. I had no furniture, only an air mattress in the bedroom to sleep on. There were no pictures of friends or family, no knick-knacks, nothing to indicate that anyone lived here.

These were the times I missed the BRB most. With them, I’d never felt alone, even when I was the only one in the room.

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