anything just yet.
As we walked, I tried hard not to stare at the people, looking at just the buildings
and scenery. When I was able to lose myself in it, the entire scene was simply
breathtaking. The mountains surrounding us were everything I thought they would
be and more. But then I’d feel a slight tug on my arm and remember where I really
was. Darren held my hand the entire time, never letting up on his tight grip, but I
did notice the slight decrease in speed of his typical walking pace. I normally
walked the same pace he did, but I appreciated his slowing down to allow me to
enjoy the city. With the number of times I wasn’t looking ahead of me, it would
have been very easy for me to trip over myself and stumble into something.
I could feel my personal guards, as well as Scott and the other remaining guards
behind us. They traveled at a respectful distance, not wanting to appear obvious as
a security entourage. I appreciated their discretion and the fact that Darren was
allowing it. It was almost as if it was just the two of us out for a stroll, or hell, even a
date.
As the sun went down shortly after four p.m., a light snowfall had begun to fall
over the city, adding to the magic that made Anchorage a special gem to cherish.
And for some reason, it only made me sad. The entire time, I fought to ignore the
fact I was finally out in the open. I was being seen by people who had no idea I was a
walking ghost, that I was once a missing girl who was later found dead in the back
of an alley in downtown Detroit. No one here knew that. No one recognized me or
barely even looked at me for that matter. And to be honest, I was glad. I didn’t want
a scene. I didn’t want anything to happen that would affect the safety of my family.
I despised that Darren was still able to hold them over my head, but at least, he was
no longer hunting every single one of them. Just the ones who had actually foiled
his plans and escaped him.
“So what do you think?” Darren asked me as we walked along the outside path
of Delaney Park.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you for letting me see it.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, but there was a hint of smugness hidden in his tone.
“Come on; let’s step in here for a minute.”
Darren pulled us into what seemed like a small pet store, the door ringing as we
stepped inside to signal our entrance. He leisurely led me over to the section of the
store containing all the collars and told me to pick one. But as I looked over all the
collars, my fingers couldn’t help but casually tap against the one around my throat.
Why was he making me do this? Why hadn’t he just picked one out himself as he
had for everything else that might be considered mine? Why did giving me the
choice of selecting the collar matter so much to him? It felt like a cruel slap in the
face.
Gazing over the large selection, I had a hard time figuring out what to pick out
for my dog. There were collars of all different sizes and colors, some with spikes
and some with bows. Eventually, I finally decided on a sparkly silver one with little
rhinestones around the center.
“Really? That’s the one you want?” Darren asked, his eyebrows raised in obvious
surprise.
“The irony is not lost on me, Darren. It only makes sense that Camaro’s collar
should match my own,” I said boldly.
Darren stepped closer to me, his anger becoming evident. Luckily, we were the
only two in the store and we were well hidden by the numerous shelves around us.
“Are you trying to push me right now?” he asked, his voice low but still just as
menacing.
“Not even a little bit. But you are certainly trying to push me with this, and it’s
not fair.”
Darren stepped even closer, his hand wrapping around my arm in a tight
warning grip and lowered his lips to my ear. “When are you going to get over the
idea that I’ll ever be fair to you? You’ll live your life as I see fit, and I’m beyond the
point of caring how unfair you think that is. Now, stop complaining and pick out a
damn tag for Camaro.”
I huffed my sigh as he returned to his full height, and I focused on not rolling my
eyes as I searched through the tags next to the collars. Not giving a damn anymore,
I picked the typical metal bone-shaped tag and handed it, along with the collar, to
Darren. He took my selections to the front counter and had Camaro’s name
engraved onto the metal. I kept my mouth shut, and my eyes unfocused as Darren
answered the clerk’s questions and paid for everything.
When we left the store, he handed the bag to one of the guards who waited
outside, and we carried on our way, my hand still stuck in Darren’s. We walked back
to the SUV and took off again, and even though I wanted to ask where we were
going now, I stayed quiet.
