She still wasn’t sure how he’d always managed to hold onto that job after his behavior had become really erratic. She didn’t believe for a moment that he’d been searching for her when he’d missed work. No, he’d likely been in a drug haze. It was only when he’d realized that he’d lost his job and his house that he’d likely started looking for her. Not that she cared when he’d started looking. She would have been perfectly happy if he’d never looked for her.
“I know,” she said, wondering how she’d managed to agree without laughing her ass off. She wasn’t going back to that sad life where she was a victim ever again. Johnny would learn that the hard way. Either she would teach it to him, or Peanut would. She wasn’t sure yet who it would be but she knew for a fact that he’d learn it.
“Damned right you know,” Johnny said. He seemed calmer and she watched the back of his head as the miles grew between her and Peanut. She wanted to insist that they stop but she didn’t want to set him off again. She needed to think. He typically got tired after one of his blow ups. It was usually when the high started wearing off. Maybe she could use that to her advantage. She knew they’d been driving for a little under a half hour when she started noting his head drooping a little.
“Johnny, I can drive if you want me too. I don’t want you any more stressed than you already are. I know I messed everything up when I ran away. You were right about that mean biker who trapped me to take care of his kid and all. I want to help you.” She waited on him to acknowledge her offer. She knew he’d flat refuse to allow her to drive, but it was the only way she could think of to make him stop somewhere.
“You can’t drive. How do I know you won’t try to go back?” Johnny demanded, glaring at her in the rearview mirror. His dark almost black eyes narrowed.
“I wouldn’t do that. I know I made a huge mistake when I left you. You know how much I care for you.” She couldn’t bring herself to say that she loved him. Even though she’d told him thousands of times before, it just seemed wrong to say it to him after meeting Peanut. She didn’t love Johnny and she hadn’t for years. Phoebe smiled brightly to cover the fact that she hated every second that she had to play this game with him.
Johnny snorted and pulled off the interstate at the next exit, driving in the direction of a local motel. She hoped he was heading to the motel or at the very least the McDonald’s the sign advertised. Phoebe held her breath as she waited to see where he was going. She really needed him to stop somewhere so she could escape him. The more public the place they stopped was, the better because she would need someone to distract him while she made her get-away. Hopefully some good Samaritan would help.
“I’m getting a room and we will sleep for an hour or two,” Johnny said as he pulled into the motel parking lot near the office.
“Sure, honey, whatever you want,” Phoebe said sweetly, using the voice he’d always liked. He eyed her as he turned off the car, his dark pupils taking up most of his eyes despite the obvious crash he was nearing.
“You better behave while we’re here, Phoebe, or I will punish you. I only seek to provide you with the correction you need. I don’t want you thinking you can act like a whore and get away with it. Now, we’re going inside and you’re going to stay right beside me the whole time or I will have to chain you up with the chains I bought.” At first, she thought he was joking but then she realized he wasn’t one to joke. Holy shit, he actually planned on chaining her up. She knew damned good and well she couldn’t let that happen. Lord only knew what he’d do to her once she was at his mercy with no way to escape.
“I will be good. I missed you so much. I just want to be with you now that you found me,” Phoebe said, smiling bigger than she could ever remember smiling before. She knew it was fake because it hurt her face so much to do it. Johnny nodded as he moved out of the car, opening the back door since the child locks were preventing her from opening it herself. She almost rolled her eyes. Johnny was a seriously fucked up motherfucker. Johnny held her arm as he led her into the office with his hand tightly wrapped around her to let her know who had the upper hand in this situation. She knew it was best to let him think that, so she didn’t fight him as he checked them into the motel. She would bide her time and when she felt that her odds for getting away were better, she’d make her move.
She waited near the desk while Johnny talked to the attendant. Johnny had let her go once they were inside the lobby, but he didn’t take his eyes off of her while he checked them in. Phoebe watched the man behind the counter hoping to see a glimmer of interest that she could use to her advantage. Unfortunately, the rather heavy-set man wearing a black button up—with a mystery stain on the collar—was too busy watching the TV next to him. She knew he was watching some kind of sports game because she could hear a referee calling out penalties. Realizing that the man wasn’t going to be helping her get away from Johnny,
