Safe In His Arms (Life Unexpected #1)

by Melanie D. Snitker

  Life

  Unexpected

  Book One

  Safe In

  His Arms

  Melanie D. Snitker

  Safe In His Arms (Life Unexpected: Book 1)

  © 2016 Melanie D. Snitker

  Published by Dallionz Media, LLC

  P.O. Box 6821

  Abilene, TX 79608

  Cover: Blue Valley Author Services

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Please purchase only authorized editions.

  For permission requests, please contact the author at the e-mail below or through her website.

  Melanie D. Snitker

  melaniedsnitker@gmail.com

  www.melaniedsnitker.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Life Unexpected: Book One

  Safe In His Arms

  By Melanie D. Snitker

  All rights reserved

  Copyright © 2016 Melanie D. Snitker

  ISBN: 978-0-9975289-0-9

  ASIN: B01EK83JDM

  You came near when I called you,

  and you said, “Do not fear.”

  O Lord, you took up my case;

  you redeemed my life.

  Lamentations 3:57-5

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Acknowledgments

  Connect with Melanie

  Books by Melanie D. Snitker

  Chapter One

  Anna Henderson took in a steadying breath and blew it back out again. After navigating the maze that was Dallas/Fort Worth, the smaller town of Quintin, Texas seemed downright tame.

  The Dodge van rolled to a stop at a red light, punctuated by a whine from the passenger seat.

  “Hang on, Epic. We’ll be there in a few minutes.” Her Great Pyrenees had been patient the last few hours of the drive, but he was getting antsy. She sympathized as she flexed her ankles to keep the blood flowing in her legs.

  When they’d left Utah two days ago, Anna had no idea where she was going. She only knew she had to get as far away as possible.

  She still smelled the acrid smoke and remembered the way the fire heated her skin. The panic that plagued her since she’d realized her ex-boyfriend, Liam, had seen her through the flames kept her moving.

  Until she drove into Quintin.

  Within moments, peace enveloped her. It was something she’d sorely lacked for longer than she cared to admit and impossible to ignore.

  “I think this will be a good place for us, Epic. But it’ll take a while to get everything figured out.”

  They’d sat in the parking lot of a grocery store for a half hour while Anna perused the city map she’d picked up. That’s when she saw it. A shopping center bordered on one side by a large city park. It was as if a light had shone on the map from above, accompanied by a chorus of singing. Slight exaggeration, but yeah.

  Perfect.

  Now she was sitting at a stoplight, the map open on her lap. The light turned green. She needed to merge and raised herself up in the driver’s seat. Despite her attempt, she couldn’t see the passenger mirror through the white fringe.

  “Epic! Lie down!”

  He groaned as the top of his head sank low enough for her to see. His body hung off the side and front of the seat.

  “We’re almost there.”

  Anna maneuvered her van through a series of streets towards the park. She flipped her right blinker on as she slowed and then halted at a stop sign. Epic stood again and pressed his wet nose against the window.

  When it was her turn, she steered her vehicle into the entrance. Exactly as the map had suggested, the park bordered a shopping center that included a large bookstore and numerous independent shops. In fact, the parking lots for both were separated by only a thin strip of grass.

  The clouds to the west took on an orange hue as the sun sank below the horizon. It was Monday, the last day of February. Tomorrow was the start of a new month and, she hoped, a new chapter in her life.

  Anna’s stomach rumbled. Other than chips and a piece of fruit, she’d eaten little. Putting as much distance between her and Liam was the priority. She looked forward to stopping tonight and having something more substantial to eat. But before she did anything else, there was no doubt Epic had business to take care of. She eyed the public restrooms not far away and made a mental note.

  She claimed a parking space and turned the engine off. A few moments of observation and she was confident they were alone.

  After shoving her keys into her jeans, she proceeded to the van’s door and slid it open. Epic traversed the distance from van to pavement with no effort, his giant tongue lolling out of his mouth. He shook out his heavy white fur, pieces flying into the air as they caught the fading sunshine.

  Anna clipped a leash to his red collar. Epic lifted his head and stretched out his neck as he ran his wet tongue across her chin. “You’re welcome. Let’s stretch our legs.”

  She adjusted the windbreaker around her, shoved a tennis ball into the pocket, and led Epic to the grass where he could take care of business. Once he was done and she’d cleaned up after him, Anna took off jogging down the path. It was a moderate pace for her while Epic merely loped. As they ran, some of the tension that’d been building since they left Utah fell away.

  The park was quiet and the sky darkened. The first star peered down on them as the cool air grew crisp. Out here, it ought to be easy to forget the past.

  If only it were that simple.

  She tossed a glimpse over her shoulder to ensure no one was around. At the moment, she couldn’t imagine a time when danger didn’t lurk around every corner.

  Whenever she was in a crowd, she half expected Liam to be standing there. Thinking about the possibility made her shiver. And to think she’d trusted him. If he ever found her…

  No.

  Anna had to focus on creating a new life. Liam wouldn’t find her here. She’d collected her meager savings, paid cash for the old Dodge van, and was using a throwaway phone. She intended on staying invisible.

  And she wasn’t going to trust anyone. Certainly not blindly like she had Liam.

  She heaved a sigh and slowed her pace. There wasn’t a soul around. She removed Epic’s leash and threw the tennis ball as far as she could into the field.

  With more grace than one would expect from a dog his size, Epic turned in mid-air and bounded off after it. He scooped the ball up off the grass and it disappeared into his massive mouth.

  Even though h
e was perfectly capable of crushing the ball, Epic dropped it at her feet in the same condition he found it, albeit slimier, each time.

  They continued their game of fetch for another twenty minutes before Epic wandered and took care of more business.

  She checked the time on her phone. Almost seven. She whistled for Epic and he joined her in moments. “Come on, we need to make dinner before it gets much later.”

  As if Epic understood every word, he leaned forward and grasped the end of the leash with his mouth. Without hesitating, he led his owner back to the van.

  Another survey of the area assured her they were still alone. She pulled out a two-gallon bucket and filled it with fresh water for Epic. She poured a bowl full of dog food. He appeared grateful and began to eat. Anna got lunchmeat, a cheese square, and bread out of the cooler. Sandwich time. Again.

  Anna took a large bite and chewed thoughtfully. Most of the ice in the cooler had melted. She’d need to get more in the morning.

  She swallowed. “Don’t worry, buddy. I’m gonna find a job tomorrow. I’ll get us out of this mess.” The dog watched her and tilted his head sideways. “I’m serious. Wait and see.” She eyed the sandwich in her hand. “I’m ready to eat something else here soon.” Epic seemed perplexed before returning to his own food. “Okay, I admit, it could be worse. How about we both upgrade? I’ll get something better and you can have my sandwiches.”

  Anna rubbed the dog’s head. The combination of her short stature and the mammoth size of the dog meant she didn’t have to bend down to reach him.

  When they’d finished, she turned the van on long enough to charge her cell phone. The heater filled the interior with warmth until Anna started to sweat. It would be enough until they fell asleep. It was dark outside except for the lights around the shopping center.

  “Well, there’s nothing left to do but get some rest.”

  Epic knew the process and moved out of the way while Anna dragged the comforters out of the back of the van. She turned the engine off, locked all of the doors, and stretched out on the middle seat. With the blankets tucked under her chin, she watched as Epic squeezed himself into the space at the floorboard and curled up on the edge of the comforter that had reached the floor.

  The full-sized, dark green van might be old and the seats torn, but it was roomy enough for the two of them.

  Anna draped her arm over the side of the seat and reached for the cylinder attached to Epic’s collar. She felt the cool metal against her fingers and thought about the thumb drive inside. A few towns back, she’d stopped at a library to use their computer. But the files wouldn’t open and it said they were encrypted. She hoped that meant they could be decrypted somehow.

  She needed help. It was possible that drive contained the evidence she needed to get Liam out of her life forever.

  Epic groaned as he settled in for the night. Anna tucked her hand under the blankets.

  It didn’t matter how uncertain life was, Epic made her feel safe. Any measure of security counted for a whole lot when it came to sleeping in a strange town.

  ~

  Liam pulled keys out of his pocket and rummaged through them until he found the one that would unlock Anna’s door. She’d hesitated when he suggested she give him a key to her apartment. But he’d insisted, accusing her of not trusting him.

  He entered the space and turned the lights on. She’d left almost everything behind except for a selection of clothing, a few personal items, and that stupid dog of hers.

  This was the third time he’d come in here, hoping to find some kind of clue showing him where she might be headed.

  And again, there was nothing.

  Not even on that blasted computer of hers.

  Liam shoved the monitor off her desk. It landed on the floor with a satisfying crash. The monitor rested on its side and he knocked it over the rest of the way with his foot for good measure.

  That fire was supposed to be a foolproof plan to take care of his failing business and make Anna pay for walking away from him. All evidence should’ve burned in that building along with everything else.

  He’d watched Anna as the place filled with smoke. The last thing he’d expected was for her to grab the thumb drive and have enough sense to get out of the building before it fell down around her.

  That blasted drive! Liam shoved Anna’s rolling chair against her desk. He needed to get it back and destroy it before she found a way to recover the files.

  She might have slipped away from him, but he was going to find her, one way or another.

  ~

  Anna had set her phone alarm for eight in the morning. It turned out to be unnecessary. The moment the sun brightened the sky, Epic awakened her by licking her hand.

  The cold morning air bit at her face and she struggled with which would be worse: Lie there and continue to freeze, or brave the temperature long enough to turn the heater on.

  Epic’s insistence made her mind up for her and she moved to the driver’s seat with a shiver.

  The temperature gauge climbed slowly. She turned the heater on high. The warmth flowed over her and she lounged on the middle seat again.

  Epic whined at the door but she shook her head. “It won’t kill you to wait ten minutes.” He followed her with his big brown eyes, the air from the heater whipping the hair on his face around. Anna giggled. “You’re in serious need of a haircut.” She ran her fingers through her own and realized the tresses nearly reached the middle of her back. She could use a trim, too.

  Over the next hour, they went through what had become their morning routine. Bathroom breaks, breakfast of dry cereal for her and dog food for Epic, followed by an early morning run in the park.

  A while later, Anna drove to a nearby truck stop and parked the van. She wrinkled her nose, not overly impressed with the place.

  She was in desperate need of a shower. Her appearance hadn’t exactly been a priority over the last few days. But she had every intention of securing a job before the sun set again. And she couldn’t do that when she smelled just like her dog.

  With a deep breath, she gave Epic a pat, and made her way across the parking lot and inside.

  Fifteen minutes later, hot water removed the grime from her trip and carried it to the drain. Too bad her past wasn’t as easy to wash away.

  Wiping the steam off the mirror, Anna peered at her reflection. Six months ago, she appeared younger than her twenty-three years. But now... Dark circles colored the skin below her eyes and she felt like she’d aged. Liam had done a number on her. In more ways than one. She pulled up the sleeve of her shirt and took in the fading yellow bruises. Memories of the way he’d grabbed her arm made her flinch.

  Anna shook her head in an attempt to banish all thoughts of Liam. She focused on applying concealer and a touch of blush. She wasn’t much for makeup, but you do what you’ve got to do. And after what she’d been through the last couple of weeks, it didn’t hurt.

  Anna had a plan. She needed to get a job and make enough money to afford an apartment before the weather got warm. It was okay for Epic to stay in the van for a few hours at a time now. But another month and the temperature would be too warm.

  Time was ticking and as the sand emptied from the hourglass, it added weight to the pressure building on her shoulders.

  “You’ll never make it on your own, Anna. Not without me. You’re nothing without me.”

  Liam’s gravelly voice echoed in her head and she flinched. There was a time she might have believed him. She rolled her shoulders back.

  “You’re wrong, Liam. I can do this.”

  She finished getting cleaned up and then headed back, hoping her van was still where she left it. If she decided to take up residence in Quintin, she’d have to find a nicer truck stop.

  Just over two hours later, Anna positioned the van under a tree in the lot nearest the park. She made sure Epic’s water bucket was full, gave him a good scratch behind the ears, and kissed his nose. “Be a good boy. And wish me l
uck, huh?”

  Epic raised his giant head and let out a low woof.

  Anna grinned. “Thanks. I’ll see you in a while. Behave yourself.”

  She hopped out of the van and locked the doors. It was better safe than sorry. Though anyone who tried to break into the van would get the scare of a lifetime in the form of a giant white carpet with teeth.

  She brushed stray hairs off her jeans, straightened her shirt, and headed towards the shopping center.

  It was almost noon and there were several restaurants. The trick was to find the one that seemed to be the busiest during lunch hour.

  It didn’t take long. The revolving door of one establishment caught her attention. The sign sported a burger and the words, “J’s Parkview Diner.”

  Anna turned and held her hand above her eyes to block the sun. Yep, her van was still visible.

  “Okay, it’s time to make a good impression.”

  With a deep breath, she squared her shoulders. The next time the door swung open, she ducked inside. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected from the diner. Greasy walls, maybe? A dirty floor?

  Instead, a sparkling clean dining area with booths and tables reminiscent of a fifties diner greeted her from the doorway. Customers occupied most of the tables, busy eating their meals. She noticed the place hyped made-to-order burgers. Her mouth watered at the thought. They even had homemade milkshakes.

  Her eyes roved the place, landing on one man behind the counter. He stood tall and thin. Anna guessed him to be in his mid- to late-twenties. She imagined classmates teased him for his skinny stature when he was a kid. He maintained an air of confidence about him as he handled the flood of customers. Not only that, but he met each one of them with a greeting.

  There was something about his smile that drew her in. Maybe it was the way his eyes crinkled at the corners. No matter who he spoke to, the smile seemed genuine.

  Anna had noticed several people who worked at the diner, but it was that guy she decided she’d speak with first. Getting in line with the customers, she waited her turn.