Free Thorneless (Rose of Thorne Series) by Mia Michelle

how about you just relax and find out when we get there?” I suggest.  I can’t have her freaking out on me here in front of everyone before we’re scheduled to take off.
    Skylar smiles and kisses me on the lips before moving past me to take her seat. I breathe in a sigh of relief and pray that she won’t hate me in a few hours. Licking my lips, I enjoy the delicious berry flavored lip gloss that still lingers on my mouth. I need to savor that kiss because it just might be the last one I get from her for a while.
    The fiery sun is just setting in the sky when we finally touch down in Austin, Texas.  I’m so nervous that I feel like I’m going to throw up all over my lap. Skylar turns to me and flashes me that smile that always takes my breath, and then turns to peek out of the window to guess where we are.  Normally this is a fun game, but not today. When she sees the familiar surroundings of the tarmac and then the “Welcome to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport” sign over the building, her lip begins to tremble.  She turns and looks at me with confusion.
    “Skylar, let me explain.” I try to tell her my reasons of being here, but she stands in anger and yanks her bag from the side compartment beside her.  
    “No!  You don’t get to explain yourself! Why didn’t you tell me we were coming back to Austin?” She asks with pain in her voice.
    “Because I knew that you wouldn’t come with me if I had told you we were coming home,” I reply.
    “This isn’t my home. Home is a place where you feel safe and loved.  Home doesn’t mean nightmares and monsters that chase you in your sleep. This isn’t home anymore. I don’t have a home now.”
    Her words cut through me and I immediately regret my decision of bringing her back here against her will.  
    “I want to go some where else now!  Please, Lucas! Take me away from here right now!” She pleads in a panicked voice.  I reach to try to calm her, but she jerks back away from me.  I’ve never seen her this afraid before and it’s painful to witness. At this moment I’m willing to take her anywhere she wishes.  I don’t want her to ever be scared of anything.
    My pilot picks that moment to walk through the cabin and politely interrupt our conversation.
    “I’m sorry, Ms. Rose, but there won’t be any flights leaving tonight.  The fog has already set in heavy and I was lucky to land us as it is.”
    “You have got to be kidding me!” She screams, swinging her bag over her shoulder and quickly walking past me.  She doesn’t give me a chance to speak or to react before she exits the plane.  By the time I make it down the stairs, she’s getting into my town car and is pulling away.  I could make one phone call and stop her, but I don’t.  Right now, I let her run, because she thinks she needs to.  What she doesn’t know is that I’ll always be here when she’s tired of running and wants to find the home she so desperately seeks.
    I text my driver a short message and smile.  
    ME:  Notify me immediately of Ms. Rose’s requested destination.   
    DRIVER:  I am to drop her off at the nearest car rental place.  That will be J & E Cars, located a couple of miles from airport.  I can detour and give you time if you need it sir.
    ME: Yes, give Ms. Rose a slight detour .
    With another quick phone call, I’ve made arrangements to discreetly purchase whatever car Skylar selects. Then, I’ll activate the GPS location device on it to locate her whereabouts.
    She thinks she can run, but she needs to know that she can never hide.

    Skylar
    I don’t know exactly how he found me but he had.  I don’t even bother looking over in his direction as he enters the bar. You’d think he would’ve known what kind of an effect being back in Austin would’ve had on me.  He should’ve told me we were heading back here.  If I’d known, then I wouldn’t have come back at all. I’m not ready to face the ghosts of this town. They haunt me