Free Save Me by Abigail Stone Page A

alcohol. She watched as Leo reached forward, grabbing a few bottles of expensive liquor and stuffing them in his backpack.
    "What are you doing?" Layla whispered, looking anxiously back at the cashier – a Mexican man in his late 30s who was preoccupied by a magazine in his hands, "I can pay for that you know!"
    "That takes all the fun out of it," Leo laughed, grabbing another bottle and handing it to Layla with a crisp twenty dollar bill, nodding towards the man.
    "What am I supposed to this?” she asked, confused.
    "Go buy it.” Leo whispered sternly, pushing Layla towards the front of the store.
    "Play up your celeb cred. He'll never notice me."
    Layla did as she was told, not wanting to test him. She handed the money to the man behind the counter and he nodded, barely looking up from the Spanish magazine he was reading long enough to hand over her change.
    "Have a nice day,” he said in a heavy accent, nodding to Layla as she walked towards the door. She paused long enough to give Leo time to dart out first with his haul.
    "So?” Leo asked, starting back up his bike,  "was he a big Layla Carter fan?"
    Layla rolled her eyes, handing Leo his change before climbing back on the leather seat of his bike, adjusting his helmet on her head.
    "Very funny,” she said sarcastically.
    "Are you going to tell me who you are and why you needed to steal enough liquor to intoxicate Orange County or should I guess?"
    When Leo didn't reply, she continued, gripping his clothing tightly as he pulled out of the parking lot and back onto the crowded road.
    "Kidnapper? Stalker? Jaded fan who I jipped out of an autograph? Or–” she paused, searching for the right words, "just your run of the mill creep?"
    Leo laughed, veering onto the freeway. The sign above it read San Francisco.
    "Wait a second!" Layla yelled, gripping him tighter.
    "You didn't say anything about taking me out of LA! I didn't agree to this."
    Leo shook his head, his shiny black hair blowing in the wind against Layla's face.
    "If you recall princess,” he yelled over his shoulder.
    "I never really told you anything. Now hold on tight!"

TRUST

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    Present

    L eo picked up speed, his heavy black boots pressing down hard on the throttle. Layla shut her eyes tightly, too afraid to move. She knew now that whatever was happening definitely wasn't good. She shouldn't have went with him. She should have put up a fight. Stated her case. But it was too late for that now. There was no turning back. No escaping him.
    Leo didn't have to say it for Layla to know. It was in the words he wasn't saying. The way he held himself – strong and ruthless. A simple look would tell anyone what they needed to know about Leo Marsden.
    He called the shots.
    "You're such a fucking cliché," Layla announced over Leo's shoulders as they flew down the gravel road.
    "Oh yeah?” he questioned playfully, whipping his head around to look at her with a slight smile.
    That's funny coming from a child star turned porn star,  Leo thought to himself, revving up the engine and pushing down harder on the throttle as they descended up a hill.
    "And you aren't princess?" he teased, breaking the silence.
    Layla shook her head, gripping his leather cut tighter as he picked up speed.
    "Well at least I'm aware of it," she bit back, nudging Leo's shoulder at the insult.
    He smiled slightly as the wind whipped through his hair, shrugging instead of refuting her statement. Luckily, Layla didn't mind a good cliché.
    "Don't worry,” she continued with a sad laugh, talking more to herself than to Leo,  "my entire life is one giant cliché."
    "Isn't everyone's?" Leo retorted.
    Layla nodded against him. Maybe that was why she felt such a strong connection to him despite only just meeting him. He, like her, appeared lost.
    Leo lived on the edge and Layla only just teetered there. He could take off and go at any moment. Leo could live his life – really live it – however he saw fit while every