Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate Chapter 19

Briar

All the color had drained from Carter’s face when he finished reading the paper. There,it was done. The authorities knew I was here, at least, as my alias. I just had to hope the cops in this little town weren’t able to be reached by Creedon’s men.

He was driving slowly down the bend as I leaned my head against the closed window. Exhaustion was getting the better of me every second as my eyes threatened to close. Days of traveling on guard; working myself to the bone; trying to make Uncle Jake’s place work without  simple necessities; not to mention, the couch and its broken springs that dug into me; as well as the injuries I was still recovering from, must be finally taking a toll on me. I needed real food, something Beck had warned me about. I shook myself awake from drowsing. I shouldn’t be so comfortable in this man’s presence.

“Ya know, Jake never mentioned you?”  Carter questioned glancing at me, I forced my eyes to the treeline.

“I suppose he wouldn’t. Mama chose to live in the Carolinas. She didn’t want the memories of my father after he died.” Carter was quiet as he gazed over the dash at the road ahead. His throat bobbed. I didn’t want to hear about my daddy right now. He was never in my life, what was the point of chasing ghosts?

I was glad he didn’t say another word about it as he skirted the main part of town and pulled into a lot in front of a manufactured building. He hopped out of the truck as I grabbed my bag. I reached for the door handle and practically fell out as he opened it for me. He caught me around the middle before I could fall, but his firm grip sent agonizing pain through my side, causing me to cry out. The second I was on my feet, he let me go and spun me before I could mask the agony on my face.

“Briar, you alright?” he asked, concerned, as I leaned my back against the truck and breathed through the pain as it subsided. There was no hiding that.

“I think my ribs are broken," I admitted, looking away from him and he swore.  When I looked back, I didn’t know if I was looking into the face of anger, or deep concern; his brow furrowed, and his breathing was strained as if he was trying to control ragged pulls of it.

“What do you mean you think?” he growled.

“I don’t know for sure, not like I’ve had a chance to go to a doctor, or anything,” I said, going to heft up my bag before he snatched it from me. What the fuck was his problem? “Give that back!”

“What do you mean you haven’t been to a doctor?” he snipped.

“I don’t have to answer that, to you or any-fucking-body else,” I snarled, as tears threatened to spill from my eyes. His jaw dropped as I snatched the bag out of his hand with renewed force. 

“Look...” his words were cut off by the sound of the office door opening. A tall, curvy woman with auburn hair stood in the doorway.

“Let’s get this done, Carter. Blaze will be here sooner than you think to get me,” she hollered, but paused after looking at our stare off. She cocked her head as I shook mine, and I walked away from him, shaking off the emotions. I’d hid them pretty well, so far, considering. Something about him awakened those feelings I’d shoved so far down. The fear and vehemence, I knew I’d have to face them eventually, but why now? 

I passed the woman without a word, as I set my bag gingerly on the counter. She walked around it. I pulled out my folder of documents that prove ownership, along with Uncle Jake’s death certificate. I wanted to talk about it as little as possible. I added my new ID and a deed of the land. The woman glanced up at me before taking all the paperwork, picking up the deed to the land, she matched it with the rest. Her eyes glanced at me and I looked away.

“I just need to get the power turned on so the place is liveable,” I let her know, stepping back. I didn’t want her staring too long at my face. Confusion crossed her features, she went to open her mouth and looked over at Carter. Whatever passed between them had her shutting it promptly. She cleared her throat and put her glasses on as she got to work at the computer. “

“Now, with it being the weekend, and us being short-handed with Russ called out to another county, it's going to be a few days before they can get your lights on. There is a deposit of one hundred and fifty dollars, and the bill’s due the fifteenth of every month,” she said, pulling some papers off the printer, passing them to me with a pen. I slid her the cash, my anxiety high, as I quickly signed my name across the line. I pushed the paper back to her.

“Thank you,” I said, as she handed me a packet with the account number and whatever I may need to know. She passed me my documents and I carefully placed them inside the folder and tucked them away in my bag.

“I’ll meet you at the truck,” Carter said, stepping further into the office. I, for one, couldn’t wait to get out of the office, not wanting Amber to look too closely, and hopped into the passenger’s seat. My stomach growled and I was beginning to feel faint, the food at the house was not cutting it. The last thing I wanted to do was ask Carter for another favor, but there wasn’t much choice until I got the truck running. I leaned my head against the headrest and sighed. I had barely managed to control the incoming panic attack while I was inside, but now I gasped for breath, and the pain in my lungs at each inhale compounded. My vision was threatening to tunnel.