Escaping Dominance (Heart of a Wolf Series - Trina's Tale) (6 page)

At the same time
,
Trina hurried Toby into the backseat and climbed in with him. Her knee in the se
at, she quickly buckled him in.

The second Trina closed the door Amber punched the gas pedal and tore out of the parking lot w
ith tires squealing in protest.

Glancing out the rear window, Trina saw Dean moving, getting to his knees, his hand going to his head. She lost sight of him when the car sped down the road. Twisting around to face the front, her butt plopped down on the seat
.
S
he fought to calm the thoughts flashing through her mind. Dean was trying to connect with her and she blocked him, but not before he sent her his message. If he ever found her again, he would kill her
slowly
with his bare hands.

The mood in the car was a tense silence. Amber’s hands gripped the steering wheel, her eyes constantl
y going to the rearview mirror.

Trina moved the backpacks to the
back
floorboard. Lifting her leg and throwing it over the bench seat of the old Ford LTD, she climbed into the front and buckled her seatbelt. When she heard movement in the back
she glanced over her shoulder.

Toby wa
s digging through his backpack.

“Wha
t are you looking for sweetie?”

Glancing up he smiled. “I’m just getting my toy.”

Trina smiled sadly, tears mist
ing in
her eyes. She couldn’t help thinking how this must be affecting him. He didn’t show it though. He never threw tantrums like other kids she
had
seen. He was always calm and even in situations like what had just happened he went with the flow and never freaked out on her.

Amber looked over, reading the look on her face. “He does seem to be a pretty good kid.” She tur
ned back to the watch the road.

“He really is. I’m sorry I got you involved in my problems.”

Amber released a sigh. “Yeah, well trouble seems to follow me around. No biggie. What’s one more group of people looking for me?”

She laughed it off, but Trina could tell her situation wasn’t a laughing matter. “If you don’t mind me asking, who’s after you?”

Amber glanced over at her, a thoughtful look on her face. After a moment she must have decided it was safe to talk, she
sai
d
,
“My mother’s pack and t
he Council are looking for me.”

At the mention of the Council Trina’s head turned quickly in he
r direction.

Amber laughed. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I just happened to be born at the wrong time under the wrong circumstances.”

“On the full moon.” Toby’s voice floated to the front seat.

Amber frowned, her grip tighten
ing
on the steering wheel.

Trina wondered what made him say such a thing. She didn’t say anything to him, noticing Amber’s reaction, her eyes narrowed slightly. “So now my pack may be after you
,
too. I can’t apologize enough.”

Amber shook her head. “No need. Like I said, things happen for a reason and it looks like I happened to be there at the right time to help.” Glancing down in Trina’s lap, she motioned with her chin towards the piece of paper in her hand. “Sorry you coul
dn’t get that to your friend.”

Gasping slightly, Trina had totally forgotten about the message and tears sprang to her eyes. It was a wonder she had held onto it when she dropped the backpack. Mable would be worried and she was going to miss her. Amber was right. She would have put the old woman in danger if she
had
left the note or talked to her about her plans. Just like she had risked Toby’s life by getting too comfortable and
staying in one place too long.

Trina thought of Dean struggling to his knees and glanced in the side mirror, looking at the empty road behind them. “Do you think h
e’s going to try to follow us?”

“You would know the answer to that better than I.” Amber’s eyes cut over at her, one brow raised slightly. “I guess I should have asked before knocking him out if you were certain you wanted to leave. But that would have sp
oiled the element of surprise.”

Trina gave a slight chuckle and
returned her grin.
“Yeah, it would have.” Shaking her head, her
mouth
turned down at one corner. “There is no way I will ever willingly go back to him. I don’t know how it is from your pack, but in mine, women have absolutely no rights and we are forced to obey the men’s demands.”

“
I hear it’s like that in all packs. 
I’ve never lived under pack rules.” Amber smiled over at her.

“Really? Never?” Trina couldn’t believe she was so lucky. She wanted to ask so many questions but a closed expression came over Amber’s face and she didn’t want to push any further
.
S
itting quietly in the passenger sea
t she watched the trees fly by.

The old car rode a little rough, but it was better than being stuck with Dean. Toby was falling asleep and Trina felt her eyes getting heavy. Amber didn’t appear to have a problem with her not talking, so she leaned her head back and let her eyes drop. Drifting off to sleep, she woke when the car slowed down and they turned off onto another highway, and once when Amber stopped for gas. It didn’t take long, they were back on the road again and she went right back to sleep.

131

ESCAPING DOMINANCE

CHAPTER six

“Trina.”

Jerking alert, Trina gasped and sat up. Her eyes wide, she didn’t k
now where she was for a moment.

“
E
verything’s okay.” Ambe
r gave her an apologetic smile.

Running her hand through her hair, Trina drew in a breath and let it out on a sigh
.
She
peeked back at Toby
who was
still sleeping in the back sea
t.

“I just thought of this or I would have asked earlier when you were awake. The piece of paper I gave you with the shelters information on it
…
” She paused.

Trina shook her head to clear her
jumbled
mind. “Hmmm, yeah, what about it?”

“Did you put it in your pocket or leave it in the room?” Amber reached down and turned the headlights on sinc
e it was beginning to get dark.

Frowning
,
Trina checked her pockets and slapped her hand against her forehead. “Oh no, I left it on the bed!”

Amber drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “O
kay, then that changes things.”

“I really screwed up, I’m sorry.”

“First of all, the next time you say I’m sorry, I am dumping your butt out on the
side of the road
.” Amber scowled at her momentarily. “Second, you saved me a trip across country to Louisiana, now we go to L
as Vegas to the shelter there.”

“Where are we now?”

“If your man finds the paper, he
should
think we took the most direct route down through California.” Amber smiled brightly. “We are near Carson City, half way to Vegas already.”

“So how do you know where all these shelters are? Do you stay at them while traveling?” Trina rubbed her hand across her eyes. She felt like she had just fallen asleep
and was still tired
. Glancing at the clock
,
she saw that
they had been on the road for hours
and
r
ealized she was getting hungry.

“Had my fill when I was younger, I avoid the shelters all together. You seem to be okay with being around people.” Her shoulder lifted in a light shrug. “I’m not.” She checked the mirrors again before continuing. “Since you have a kid, it may be safer for you though. With Vegas being in a different region you should be okay. Shelters are a haven of sorts and won’t allow packs to come after any of the residents.”

The not liking being around people
explained Amber’s gruff demeanor. She wasn’t really rude she just didn’t like to deal with people. It was understandable. “Yeah, I don’t have a problem being around people, I just don’t like being around Dean’s pack.”

“I’m getting hungry
.” Amber jerked her head towards Toby. 
“
I figured
he might be
,
too.”

Stirrings from the back seat brought Trina’s attention to
hi
s messy hair and the red lines running down the side of his face where he’d rested against the seat belt. A bit of drool at the corner of his mouth made her grin. “You hungry
,
baby?”

Toby nodded and stretched, his mouth yawning wide.

Pulling into the truck stop, Amber climbed out of the car cautiously then m
otioned for them to follow her.

Trina snorted a small laugh at how cautious she was being. Amber acted like she didn’t trust anyone and everyone could be a possible enemy. Trina hurried Toby out of the car and into the diner. She really needed to go to the ba
throom and was sure he did too.

By the time they got out,
Amber
had secured a table. With her back against
the wall,
she sat
next to the window, watching the parking lot. Trina and Toby slid
into the booth across from her.

The truck stop was busy and by the time the waitress came around everyone
had decided on what they wanted to
order. With Amber keeping a watchful eye, they all ate quietly
.

When they
got up to leave
, both
women grabbed for the ticket and frowned at each other for a moment. “You have done enough for us already.” Trina would not release the slip of paper. She didn’t care that Amber was taller than her and could probably take her down if she wanted too. Hell, her flying front kick in Dean’s side proved that mu
ch. But she wouldn’t let it go.

Eyes narrowed, Amber finally relented after what appeared to be a small standoff and dropped her hand. “It’s all yours.” She
turned without another word and
headed towards the exit.

Trina half expected her to leave them there and hurried
the cashier so she could
get
out the door
. Relief washed over her
as
she barreled out.

Amber
was
leaning against the car with her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes still scanning the parking lot. When they got close enough, she turned, opened the back for Toby to crawl in and closed the door behind him. She
then
climbed in behind the wheel and st
arted the car.

“You may as well get some more sleep
,
w
e have at least seven and a half, eight hours before we get there.” Her tone sounded a little gruff.

“I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You didn’t and at least you didn’t apologize this time.” Amber gave
her a grin.

Trina smiled back
with a slight shake of her head
and settled into the seat after making sure Toby was buckled in. She was beginning to realize Amber’s rough exterior as just that. “I would offer to drive, but I’ve never driven a day in my lif
e.”

Amber cut her eyes over at her.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Trina shook her head. “Nope, my parents died when I was seven. My uncle and his wife were always too busy and Dean refused to allow me to touch his truck unless I was washing it or in the passenger seat.”

“Well, you really need to learn. There may not always be someone around to take you.”

“Yeah, I know. I do appreciate you doing this. I
honestly
thought you were going to drop us at the bus station. I certainly didn’t think you were going to drive us all the way to Louisiana
,
or even Vegas.”

“I’m in between jobs now anyway
,
”
s
he shrugged
. G
lanc
ing
over at the side view mirror
, she
did a double take
and l
eaning closer to confirm what she was seeing. “Doesn’t Dean drive a red and white truck?”

Amber
had apparently notice
d
his truck in the parking lot at the hotel, she certainly hadn’t.
Trina nodded and jerked around in the seat, staring out the back window in time to see him barreling up the highway,
heading straight towards them.

“If he keeps coming like that, he’s going to ram us. You might want to hold on
,
Toby.” Amber punched the gas pedal
.
T
he old car was on its last leg already and faltered a moment before it gave a small burst of speed, leapin
g forward with one last effort.

“Baby, hold on and keep your head down, okay?” Trina twisted around in the sea
t and tried to help him adjust.

“You might want to turn around in case he hits us
,
d
on’t want you going through the window.” Amber’s voice was urgent. She kept leaning forward, looking to the side and behind them, moving her body around so she could keep her eye on
where
the truck
was while staying in her lane
.

Trina plopped back down in her seat and
quickly
refastened her seat belt.

Luck on their side, there was actually traffic on the highway. A car moved in behind
t
he
i
rs
.
W
hen Dean began moving alongside trying to pass, Amber timed it just right
and
stomped on the
gas, whipping the wheel to the right. Hitting the exit
, their tires
throwing rocks in the air, they shot up the off ramp.

Trina yipped
worri
edly when the white and red truck swerved towards the exit. He nearly clipped the front end of the car
that
had been following Amber on the highway. The truck fishtailed, causing him to miss the exit completely. Trina moved around in the seat
; l
ooking
nervous
ly out the windshield,
and
side and rear windows
,
tryin
g to see where they were going.

The road ran alongside the highway. The embankment too steep for the truck to climb and follow, Amber turned off on some side roads
,
dr
iving
like a mad woman.

Trina stared at her wide eyed when she pulled to a stop at the police station. “What are you doing?”

“Last place you expect me to go
,
right?”

Trina nodded, her lips pressed together, she still didn’t u
nderstand what Amber was doing.

“We’re leaving the car. Get your things and come on.” Amber didn’t give her time to ask questions. Shoving the door open, she jumped out of the car and ran to the rear. Her palm smacked the trunk and it popped open. Grabbing her green backpack, she slung it over her shoulder,
and then
hefted a strap onto her other shoulder of what looked like a computer bag
.
S
natching up another smaller backpack
,
she waited impatiently.

Trina slung their packs over her shoulders, grabbed Toby and followed her down the street, hurrying to catch up. “Mind telling me where we are going?”

“Map at the truck stop shows a mote
l up the road about two miles.”

Realization dawned on Trina. If Dean came back and saw the car at the police station, he would more than likely park up the road
and
wait endlessly for them to come back out when the police couldn’t help them. A sinister smile curled her lip. She was going to have to get smarter to stay on the run like this. “There are
n’t
many trees in the area so we need to really watch for traffic and stay hidden when possible. Can’t he track ou
r scent with us being on foot?”

Amber didn’t respond immediately. She took off down the back streets heading towards the highway. Watching for his truck, they
rushed
towards the motel. “I’m counting on him thinking we are in the police station and not get
ting
out of the truck. That’s why w
e need to hurry and get going.”

Trina tried carrying Toby like she did the night she made her first escape.
But h
e had grown
and
they had more stuff
so
sh
e started falling behind.

Seeing that she couldn’t keep up,
Amber twirled around and held her hand out. “Set him down. Give me your backpack. We can’t stay out in the open any longer, we need to move!”

131