by Anya Nowlan
The woman had been identified as a Samantha Rowland, with her picture popping up on the screen, next to the image of her daughter, named Ava.
So that’s what you’re called, Carlie thought, looking over at the little one.
“Ava,” she mouthed softly.
“Now, a word from the detective in charge of the case,” the newscaster said, shoving her microphone into the face of a tall, square-jawed man and distracting Carlie.
Detective Silas, the little box in the corner said and Carlie recognized him immediately.
Shit! It’s the same guy from the crime scene.
Just like it had at the scene of the crime, the sight of him made her skin pimple with goosebumps and her throat constrict a little.
“Our first priority is finding Ms. Rowland’s six-month-old daughter,” Silas said, but the ringing in Carlie’s ears took over and she couldn’t concentrate on the rest of what the man was saying.
It felt like he was looking right through the screen and seeing her. Like he could just as well track her through the damn satellite, without even knowing what her name was.
He saw me, near Mercy, in my scrubs. There’s no way he’s not going to find out who I am.
Staring at Ava, slumbering peacefully on her tired old couch, she knew there was only one thing she could do now to keep both herself and the baby safe.
I have to get out of town.
One
Devlin
Leaving the great state of Missouri in his rearview mirror, Devlin turned up his stereo, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel of his silver Mazda. He liked being on the road, which is why he’d decided to drive to Wyoming, instead of flying, like any other sane person would do.
Cramped into a flying death machine where I have no control over what’s happening? No, thanks.
Besides, he’d never even been outside of Florida before and this was a great opportunity to see all the places he wouldn’t have a chance to, otherwise. Wasn’t every American supposed to have that Great American Roadtrip at one point?
It wasn’t that he had anything against his hometown of Miami. It was a fine place to live, but it was beginning to be stifling, stuck in the concrete jungle.
His animal side grumbled in his chest, approving his decision to get somewhere a little less densely populated. Maybe in a more relaxed environment, he could figure out what was missing in his life. There had to be a reason why he was feeling so restless lately, besides the string of not-so-promising jobs.
Place after place, he’d just felt… well, out of place. It had occurred to him finally that maybe it was the city that all of these places were in – Miami – that was partially to blame. After all, between the gators and the seniors, there really wasn’t much in the way of wildlife there. Not enough for a werebear, anyway.
With the road stretching out before him, he’d have plenty of time to contemplate that. He had even picked a route that took him off the major highways, allowing him to take in the scenery and set his own pace.
It was calming, bumping around among the trees, listening to his favorite tunes. He hadn’t seen another car in ages.
Which is why he was especially surprised when after rounding a curve, he saw a crappy little car on the side of the road, with a distressed looking woman standing by its side, waving him down.
What the….
Frowning, Devlin slowed down the vehicle. Knowing he was probably the only car that would pass here in a while, he pulled over, hopping out of the driver’s seat as soon as the car was in park.
“Hey,” he said lightly, offering her a grin that didn’t get much in the way of a reply.
The woman was obviously upset, tense and on the verge of tears. He walked over to her briskly, fearing that maybe she had been in some sort of accident. The car definitely looked dented enough for that to be the case.
That’s when he noticed she was holding a baby in her arms.
“You run into some trouble?” he asked, slowing down as he got closer to the woman.
“Thank you for stopping,” the woman said with a relieved sigh, shushing the little one and starting to rock her arms back and forth.
She looked like she was twisting her face into some sort of normalcy almost forcefully, like she couldn’t do it naturally. The way she stood made him think of prey, knowing that it was being chased and being powerless to do anything against it but keep on running.
“My car was on its last leg as it was, and now it’s decided to finally kick the bucket,” she explained, glancing at the rusted doors and dented bumper.
Devlin found himself momentarily tongue-tied as he took in the sight of the delicious Latina in front of him. He doubted he had ever seen anyone more beautiful than her, with her wild curls and doe-eyes, framed by a thick band of lashes.
She was dressed casually but the jeans and top seemed to only accentuate her figure. And though she was obviously terrified by something, he still couldn’t deny that she was unquestionably gorgeous.
Yet it went beyond her dark eyes and kissable lips, the attraction he felt was much deeper than that. Even his bear clawed its way closer to the surface, rumbling softly as Devlin’s eyes caressed the woman’s soft curves.
“So it’s a lost cause, huh?” he finally managed to get out.
“I’m afraid so, it’s the…” she started to say before looking away from the car and fixing her eyes on him for the first time. “The, uh…” she stuttered, letting her gaze sweep over him.
For a moment, he thought she might be scared of him. He could come off as imposing, as tall and wide as he was, and they were in the middle of a largely abandoned road. But when she offered him a flustered smile, he realized it might be something different entirely, though just as base.
Could it be that she finds me attractive? he mused, an honest smile spreading over his lips now.
“The engine,” she finally finished. “I don’t know what to do, can we hitch a ride with you? We won’t be any trouble, I promise. You can drop us off at the nearest town.”
She looked nervous as hell waiting for his answer, looking at the road behind him as if someone would appear there at any moment. Whatever she was in such a rush to get away from, it couldn’t be good.
“Of course. I’m not going to leave a mother and child on the side of the road,” he answered. “My name is Devlin, by the way.”
“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver. I’m Carlie,” she said, glancing down at the child in her arms, wrapped in several layers of pink.
Devlin nodded, transfixed by the woman in front of him.
Carlie.
It would roll off his tongue perfectly.
“Can I help you get your things?”
“I don’t have a lot with me, but if you could hold Ava for a second I’ll get the bags.”
“Sure. That’s a lovely name, by the way.”
“Oh… Uh, yes. Thank you,” she replied, chewing on her lower lip nervously.
Not having a lot of experience with babies as of late, Devlin reached out hesitantly as Ava was plopped into his arms. The little girl was wiggling her fingers and looking up at him with the bluest eyes he had ever seen. Coupled with the wisp of blonde hair on her head, he couldn’t help but cast a suspicious glance at Carlie.
Not exactly much of a family resemblance…
The situation didn’t seem to be entirely on the up and up, but what could he do? He wasn’t about to leave them here, stranded, waiting for whatever Carlie was avoiding to catch up with them. And even if the situation were too weird for him to handle, he couldn’t have dragged his bear away from this woman if he tried.
She seemed to be in a rush as she gathered stuff from the backseat and threw it into a small bag before slinging it over her shoulder.
So, she travelled light. Not that unusual.
Okay, a little unusual when you’re with a baby, but whatever.
But if she hadn’t seemed suspiciously like she was on the run before, the way she sprinted from t
he front of the car to the back, kicking off the license plates and tucking them under her armpit certainly sealed the deal. Obviously she didn’t want the car to be traced back to her.
Devlin’s expression fell a little. Just then, Ava reached up for him, smiling that wide, happy baby smile that he couldn’t help but match.
These two ladies are going to get me in trouble, I just know it, he thought, helping Carlie into his car and reluctantly handing Ava back to her. This roadtrip is going to be a lot more interesting than I thought.
“Thank you so much,” Carlie sighed with relief, settling into the seat.
“No problem, Miss,” Devlin offered with a grin, even though his gut was roiling with doubt.
But, one look at the woman he couldn’t help but feel attracted to, and the baby who’d fit so snugly into his arms, had him letting out a long breath and resolving to go with his heart on this tone.
Slamming the door shut behind him, it occurred to him this might not be the wisest course of action. When Carlie threw him a grateful smile as he got in the driver’s seat, he knew he couldn’t have handled it differently if he had tried.
Let’s get this show on the road.
Two
Carlie
Thank God he happened to drive by when he did, Carlie thought with a relieved sigh, stealing glances at Devlin.
She had taken backroads out of town, hoping it would help her stay under the radar. With everything going on, she hadn’t even considered the danger of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere.
I should have guessed the rust-mobile would choose today of all days to die on me.
Getting out of town had been her primary concern. From what she’d heard on the radio, the search for Ava was only intensifying. The little one was now fast asleep in her lap, so she kept her voice low when she spoke, directing her attention to Devlin.
“Where are you headed?”
“Wyoming. There’s a small town there I’d like to visit,” Devlin replied, giving her a friendly smile.
Looking at him distracted Carlie more than she would have liked to admit. His towering, muscular frame was paired with a strong, straight nose and a jawline you could cut steel with. With a mop of blond hair and clear blue eyes, he reminded her of a young Robert Redford, if the actor had spent most of his time in the gym instead of in front of a camera.
It felt silly, feeling her stomach twist in excitement every time he stole glances at her, especially with her life in danger and all, but she couldn’t help it. There was an electricity between them that made every look and glimpse feel meaningful and flirtatious.
She wasn’t exactly sure she should stoke the fire, but then again, how much more trouble could she possibly get herself into?
It couldn’t hurt to get to know each other. We are going to be stuck in a car together, no need to just stare ahead in awkward silence.
Besides, it felt nice to not think about the very possible impending doom on the horizon. Devlin was the first thing or person, other than little Ava herself, that could keep Carlie from freaking out, if only for a second.
“Do you have family there?” she asked.
Her questions were born from genuine curiosity, but a small part of her also hoped it would prevent Devlin from asking his own. The license plates she gathered from her car lay at her feet, and the baby she was holding couldn’t look less like her. From his sideways glances, she could tell Devlin was at least somewhat suspicious of her.
She couldn’t blame him. If the roles were reversed, she doubted she’d let herself in the car. Clearly Devlin either trusted his sense of judgment better, or she didn’t strike him as the axe-murdering type. Either case, she was thankful that he’d shown her the kindness of giving her a ride.
“Not really,” he shrugged, the gesture causing the biceps under his t-shirt bulge and making Carlie’s mouth turn to cotton just a little. “My father used to live there. It’s more about connecting with your roots, that sort of thing.”
Carlie was struck by his honesty, which made the fact she was going to have to lie to him even more distasteful. Her gut was telling her he was a decent, trustworthy man, even if she didn’t really know anything about him.
But what else than a little white lie could she tell him? The truth was somewhat unbelievable. There was a high chance she would come across as a crazy lady who stole a dead woman’s baby.
Which may or may not have actually happened.
Carlie stifled a groan, trying to shake that thought from her head and failing miserably.
What if I’m seeing ghosts where there are none? I’m having a hard time processing what happened, and I lived it. I can’t risk Devlin contacting the police.
She was going to have to come up with some sort of story, though, unless she wanted Devlin to think the worst. And she needed to watch her words this time. She had already unwittingly given Devlin Ava’s real name, which was a huge mistake considering the little girl’s name and photo would be on every news station by now.
“And where were you guys headed?” he asked.
Shit. I better make this good, she thought, looking down at Ava.
The little girl looked like a cherub, soft cheeks flushed with sleep and blonde hair curling at the ends. With her mother gone, Carlie was all Ava had. Carlie thought back in horror at what might have happened if Samantha hadn’t stumbled into her path that night and instead had the baby with her when she was killed.
By the way Detective Silas was marching towards me, he definitely had plans for Ava, as well.
She couldn’t hide the shiver that accompanied that thought, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Devlin. It didn’t matter though, she could use it to her advantage. A story was starting to build in her head and she rushed to get it out, not wanting it to look like she was thinking too hard about what to say.
“Anywhere, really. As you might have figured out, Ava is not my biological daughter.”
Devlin nodded slowly at that, glancing down at the baby before focusing back on the road. His shoulders were tense as he waited for Carlie to continue.
“I adopted her after I broke up with my boyfriend. I’ve always wanted a family and he wasn’t interested in having kids, so I decided it would be better for everyone if we just called it quits. He didn’t take it well, but left me alone, eventually.
“It wasn’t until recently that I found out that the silence was because he had been in jail. After he got out, he looked me up again and things got bad. I didn’t feel safe in my own home anymore. So I grabbed Ava and figured I could start over somewhere new.”
Peeking over at Devlin, he looked even tenser than before. His knuckles were turning white around the steering wheel, and the silence filling the cab felt loaded. Carlie could swear she even heard a low growl coming from his throat, but she must have imagined it.
Great, Carlie. Now you’re losing your mind on top of it all.
“And the police were no help? It sounds like the bastard was stalking you.”
If Devlin pried long enough, he would stumble upon holes in her story, rushed as it was. It would be better if she could steer the conversation elsewhere, and at least delay his curiosity.
Her gut twisted, hating the fact that she had to lie to this man.
“I would really rather not talk about it. I’m trying to leave him and everything he put us through behind.”
He nodded at that, jaw clenching. Even if he thought the story suspicious, it looked like he wasn’t going to press the matter. Gravel scrunched under the tires before they turned onto a paved road, leaving the shadows of trees behind.
“I can take you wherever you want to go. I’m not exactly on a schedule here,” he remarked after a minute, relaxing a little.
The sunlight was starting to mellow, and Carlie could feel her muscles grow heavy. Her arms had already fallen asleep from holding Ava all this time, and always being on edge had taken a toll on her.
The car was warm and smelled like Devlin, an earthy scent wi
th a good amount of musk mixed in. For whatever reason, the smell added to the sense of comfort she felt around him, and she would gladly have rested her head on his shoulder as her eyelids became heavy.
“Thank you. You don’t have to take a detour on account of us. I’m sure I’ll find someplace on the way Ava and I can stay at.”
Devlin looked worried when he looked down at her and Ava, those piercing blue eyes of his growing tight. Yawning, she wished she could see them glimmer again, like they did when he smiled.
“You’re tired. Why don’t you take a nap in the back? I’ll wake you when we get to the next rest stop.”
Carlie smiled at him, their eyes locking for maybe a bit longer than was appropriate. Especially because one of them was operating a vehicle. Yet she couldn’t look away. Something in the way Devlin looked at her made her feel special and she didn’t want the moment to end.
He slowed down, pulling to the side of the road so she could get in the backseat. When they looked away, it seemed they were both reluctant to do so.
I’m not imagining this, am I? There is something between us I can’t explain.
Cradling Ava in her arms, Carlie got out of the car and made her way to the back. Carefully placing Ava on the seat, she wrapped herself around the baby girl, with her back to Devlin. Ava sighed softly, nestled in her blankets, and Carlie finally felt safe enough to close her eyes and rest, as well.
Devlin was like a sentinel, guarding her sleep… even if he was just the guy who’d been kind enough to show her some graciousness when Carlie hadn’t dared hope for any.
Yet her sleep was restless, with one thought hammering in her head even through her dreams.
What am I going to do next?
Three