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I don’t know if he means twenty minutes exactly or not, which means I have exactly ten minutes to get my life together. Fuck, this is stressful.

Using two towels to both cover and dry myself as quickly as possible, I walk to my closet and search for clothing. I have no idea what to wear, but decide to go with layers.

While the rest of the United States is leaning into the beginnings of fall, the September Georgia weather is still sweltering with heat. Pulling on a pair of maroon leggings, a tank top with a long sleeved gauzy tunic, and flats, I grab a very warm coat to throw over it all for when it’s actually cold in Colorado.

Either way, I’m ridiculously happy just to leave here. I don’t care if I freeze. It wouldn’t be the first time.

I apply light makeup, my wig, and sigh as I hear the doorbell ring. Grabbing a large handbag, I use it to throw in my essentials to keep up this fake persona I have. Gazing down at it, I remind myself how sad this all is.

What would it be like to just be me?

“Nina!” my mother calls up to me, and I cringe.

Glancing at my phone, I see that Silas texted me.

Silas:

Time’s up. Get your cute ass downstairs. I have everything you need for Colorado. Leave whatever you’re thinking about bringing.

Gazing down at my bag, I sigh as I drop it on the ground. I’m going to have to just trust him. He hasn’t given me any reason not to, I simply am nervous about leaving overnight with him and his pack.

There are so many layers to why I’m fucked up.

Phone in hand and nothing else, I force myself to walk downstairs.

This will be fun. It’s better than being home.

Silas’ arms are crossed as he waits in the foyer, his gaze moving up my body as he watches. If he’s looking for bruising, he won’t find any, not anymore. My mother made me stand in front of her and turn slowly around so she could check at six in the morning before telling me to go back to bed.

It scared the shit out of me when she turned on the overhead light and yelled at me to get up. It was reminiscent of my time at Weeping Willow in a way, and something I would like not to relive.

“Hello,” he murmurs, watching as I smooth my hands down my body. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I respond, taking his hand when he offers it.

“She didn’t have much time to get ready, so it’ll have to do,” my mother sighs.

“Nina is beautiful regardless of that,” Silas rumbles. “I’ll be in contact, Miss Vivian, and let you know when I’m ready to return her.”

“Wait, I thought this was just for a few days,” my mother says, eyes wide.

“Ah, but you see, we’re going to be in the mountains, and we may get snowed in. We won’t be checking in regularly,” he says, opening the front door.

He leaves my mother standing there as he walks out with me, appearing amused.

“Bold,” I murmur as we walk to the SUV parked on the street.

“Apparently, we haven’t been bold enough according to her latest exploits,” he grunts, opening the back door and helping me in.

To my surprise, Cassidy is sitting there and I surprise myself by throwing myself into her arms.

“I missed you too,” she says tearfully, hugging me fiercely.

Silas closes the door behind me without a word and gets into the front seat.

“Am I being kidnapped?” I ask, half laughing, half hiccuping from tears.

“If I thought Lyle could win the case, we would,” Silas says. “We aren’t quite there yet.”