Run to Me by Christy Reece Read Free Book Online Page B

found the path he’d made a few minutes earlier and pulled her along. He kept looking back to watch her. Not that there was much light left, but he had good night vision. Something was wrong with her. Hell, what was he thinking? Of course, something was wrong with her. But now there was more. She was acting even odder than before. If he could get her to talk, maybe he’d get some answers.
    “I found a small cave. It’s not the Hilton, but it’ll do for tonight.”
    Silence.
    “You hungry?”
    No answer. What had he expected?
    He brushed aside the limbs he’d used to cover the small entrance to the cave. “Come on, let’s go.”
    “I n-need to-to go-go to … to … bathroom.”
    He untied her hands, then pointed to a tall bush a few feet away. “Over there. You got two minutes. If you run, you’ll regret it. Understand?”
    Her shadow moved behind the bush and squatted. She was headed his way in less than a minute. Would miracles never cease? She’d actually done as he’d asked.
    “Get in. I spread a couple of blankets out. It won’t be comfortable, but it beats being out in the open.”
    Without comment, she stumbled into the cave and plopped onto the blanket. After covering the entrance again, he placed his flashlight between them and dropped down in front of her. Taking two protein bars from his bag, he handed her one. “Tastes like crap, but it’ll fill you up.”
    A slender, trembling hand grabbed the bar. Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he studied the woman across from him. He’d missed several things in his need to get her inside, out of the path of anyone who might have heard her scream. Sweat poured down her face. The night was warm, but not hot enough to cause that kind of perspiration. Her shaking had turned to violent shudders. Before, when she’d spoken, she’d stuttered. He’d attributed it to an urgent need to empty her bladder, but now he wasn’t so sure.
    And why had she asked why he called her Shea?
    An odd, sick thought hit him. “Shea,” he said quietly, “look at me.”
    Her wobbling head lifted. Ethan’s heart plummeted to the deepest, darkest depths of his soul. Shea’s eyes were wild, dilated, and watery. “Good God.”
    Never in the years he’d known her had she even drunk alcohol. Her mother and stepfather had been alcoholics and drug addicts. Shea couldn’t even stand the smell of alcohol. The few times he’d ordered a beer when they went out, she’d gotten all quiet and watchful. So how did someone who had such deep convictions about putting mind-altering chemicals into her body become a drug addict?
    “Who did this to you?”
    He wouldn’t get an answer. She was fast losing her battle with whatever was trying to control her mind. Hell, he didn’t even know what she was addicted to … not that it would help. He had a little medical training, but nothing in the way of how to handle drug withdrawal.
    He watched as she lowered her head and tried, without success, to open the wrapper of the bar. Her hands were trembling so hard, she dropped it twice.
    Ripping open his own bar, he handed it to her. He was probably crazy for feeding her, because she’d most likely throw it up. But they’d been on their feet for over fourteen hours with no nourishment. She needed something inside her, even if most of it came back up.
    His appetite now nonexistent, he took her bar, tore it open, and ate the cardboard-flavored food in three bites. He ignored the taste—nourishment was their primary function, not enjoyment. Besides, the next few days were going to be rough as hell on both of them. They would need all the strength they could get.
    Relieved to see that she had managed to eat the entire bar without gagging, he took the wrapper and handed her the canteen of water. “Drink as much as you need.”
    Her teeth chattered so hard, they clanked against the canteen opening. Finally, she swallowed several mouthfuls and handed the container back to him.
    “Drink more.”
    Without