Page 11 of Empower

That was when I swore, I could have felt an emotion blasting through the speaker. Nothing but vibrant rage, then he growled, “Pack your shit darlin’. Need your address. Now.”

I sighed and closed my eyes, then I gave him my address.

He called to someone, rattled it off then said, “I’m six hours from you. Did that sumbitch give you a time? You know what, never fucking mind that shit. I’ll be there in six hours, probably five.”

I could feel a tear trail down my cheek that I hadn’t caught, my voice cracking with emotions when I whispered, “Okay, Red. Thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me darlin’. We’ll talk about all of that later. You got a lock on your door or something you can block it?”

That was when I stupidly told him about me trying to put a lock on my door and him taking it off.

Because Red growled, “Be there in four and a half hours.”

I moved my dresser in front of my door and started packing my things.

Chapter 2

Lena

Once I had everything packed and ready to go, I carefully moved down the steps.

The duffel I used for soccer practice, a grocery sack, and my quilt.

Was it normal that everything I owed fit into those two bags?

Because I didn’t think it was.

Then as I hit the bottom step, I peeked my head around the wall that delineated the hallway to the living room.

When I saw he was still asleep, I moved on tiptoes towards the front door, holding my breath, I carefully opened the door. Moved my body through it and my bags, and then ever so carefully I closed the door.

I checked my watch and let out a soft curse.

That only took me twenty minutes to get packed. According to Red, I still had four hours or so to sit there and simply wait.

Deciding to reread a book that got me through some tough times, I pulled it out of the grocery bag, turned the cover over, and devoured the words.

Heck, I could just about read the monologue aloud from memory as many times as I read this book.

When I got to a safe place, and my feet underneath me, I wanted to get another copy of this book, and maybe, just maybe, see if there was an eBook version and a version of this book I could listen to.

I just hoped that if there was, the man in this story had a voice that I imagined he did.

You know, the deep rasp? That was my kryptonite.

I sighed and then continued reading my book.

Well, that was until I heard a distant rumble.

Something unlike anything I have ever heard before.

My eyes strained in the darkness, trying to make it out, and as I did that, the rumble got louder.

And louder

And louder.

That was when I felt the ground underneath my tennis shoe-covered feet start to shake.