Page 57 of Secrets Along the Shore

Fear froze her in place for a couple long seconds. Was it too late? No. They had to flee! She tugged her son down the road at her left. “C’mon, Rian! Run!” Her hand slipped from his. He bolted down the street, his long legs helped him move quick. Elara ran behind, pumping her arms to keep up. The backpack—with the bare necessities—weighed her down.

A glance over her shoulder revealed the empty street behind them.

Empty?

She didn’t slow. They needed to get farther away. Then find a place to hide. Viktor’s men wouldn’t give up. They were toying with them. Had to be. What other reason would have them waiting around when they could drive around to try to pin them in somewhere? No. This was fun for them.

Heart pounding so hard that it seemed about to escape her chest, she slowed. “Rian!” Her limbs ached from the exertion. She hadn’t run so much in years. Viktor rarely let her out of the mansion in the ten years she’d been with him. She pressed her palms against her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Despite the agony in her chest, she didn’t stop watching their surroundings. She didn’t dare. The residential homes remained quiet and still. The homeowners had no idea what was happening right outside their doors.

The hitmen would tire of this game eventually. Then they’d drive out here and grab them.

Rian sprinted back to her side. “Momma, we have to keep going.” He grabbed her arm and tugged her down the road.

“We’re not stopping. We’re not giving up.” Elara caught his shoulder. “But we need a better plan.” She’d wanted to escape on foot so that maybe Viktor wouldn’t catch them. They’d be able to escape and hide in buildings if necessary. With vehicles, it’d have been more dangerous. Or so she thought.

But she couldn’t run forever.

“We need to find cover.”

“Can we sit by the door?” Rian pointed at the porch outside one home. The trees in front would hide them to a certain extent. But they wouldn’t block the sound of vehicles or people, so Elara could ensure no one snuck up on them.

“Yeah. Great job.” She followed him up onto the porch and sat on the doorstep. With a sigh, she dropped the backpack from her shoulders,slid her hand into a pocket, and gripped the phone she’d kept hidden. She’d used it once or twice in the last twelve years, but couldn’t bring herself to call the one man whom she’d betrayed by staying with Viktor. A tear slid down her cheek. Calling him was the last resort.

Tugging it from her pocket, she flipped it open and called a taxi. Her conscience wouldn’t let her allow anyone to get hurt because of her bad decisions, but they needed a ride. Not to the airport, although that was where they were heading. They needed food and water. She’d gathered a few necessary clothes, her Bible, and one of Rian’s toys, as well as her passport and valuables. But the chef, who typically retired after cooking dinner, lounged in the kitchen with a bottle of vodka.

“I should have planned better,” she muttered as she slid the phone into her pants pocket. She pressed her trembling hands together on her lap and glanced around. They didn’t have a good view of the road from their position behind the pillars on the covered porch, but the quietness of the night told her no one was there. Yet.

Another five minutes brought the taxi to them. Elara checked that no one was in the vehicle besides the driver. Once certain, she led Rian to it and opened the back door. “Thank you.” She tossed her backpack onto the floorboard and let her son in first.

The driver nodded. “Drago mi je da mogu pomoci.”His gaze drifted over them both. “Problemi kod kuce?”

How had he guessed that she’d fled from…Rian’s father?

She shook her head. “Ne. Ne, idem doma.” That was true. She hadn’t fled her home. After twelve years, she was finally going home. Back to Australia.

“Kamogled želite ici?”

She named a convenience store where he would take them. It’d still be open. Once she grabbed some food and water, she and Rian would continue to the airport. She pressed her fingertips to her head. It’d be quicker if the driver took them straight to the airport. They might have a better chance of fleeing Croatia.

Rian leaned his head on her shoulder. “We’ll be okay, Momma.”

“I know.” She pressed a kiss on his short black hair. “I know, my sweet boy.”

Her gaze drifted back to their driver. If she paid him to take them to the airport, he’d do it…as long as he didn’t know the danger they were in. Could she risk his life? She’d risked hers for Rian. But this man’s too?

God, please, show me what to do.

He stopped the car by the convenience store. “Evo nas.”

“Thank you so much.” Elara opened the door and let Rian out first. She grabbed the backpack and paused. “Možete li pricekati? Možda cu vas morati odvesti negdje drugdje.” She hoped that he’d be willing to wait. She needed to give God time to show her what to do.

“Zasigurno, par minuta.”

Elara smiled at his response. “Thank you.” She shut the door and headed into the store, Rian opening the door for her. Even in the rough home they’d lived in, she’d managed to teach him manners and God’s Word. Viktor hated her for it. But she’d never regret it.

After a quick trip to the restroom, she searched for some decent food to eat. Rian held up a granola bar. “This looks good.” He kept his voice low, as if he feared that Viktor’s men stood somewhere in the store.

“We can get it.” She retrieved a couple of bottles of water. It’d take a while to get to Australia. She didn’t have much money since Viktor gave her nothing.