Merle didn't want to be found, but this was her reality and reality was partial to no one. Swept up in an arms deal gone wrong and hiding out in a small town, her own version of paradise seemed like it was destined to end. That was the fate she had...
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She couldn't help but think how fragile this little thing was. It didn't take much to snap an adult's wrist, how much less for a baby in the middle of her current situation?
Her dad, her aunt, and now Angela and Ben's kid, it was like she was spiraling right back to what she had tried to avoid every time she moved away. And like a sucker for a good sob story, she'd agreed to help someone out yet again.
His wide, dark eyes seemed to lull her back into that wanton comfort of a vicious cycle of self-deprecation the moment things went south. This little thing was so pure, and she was so much the opposite, something dangerous to such a fragile being. Everyone presently connected to her was.
But the more she looked at the scene before her, saw remnants of Ben Cheney in the two before her, she couldn't help but want to help. To protect something of her new life and keep it safe, far away from anyone where they could be safely kept, like they were her own little hidden secret.
I'll leave when I need to, they'll be safe...Ben trusted them with me, she tried to convince herself as she watched Angela wipe the drool from her baby's mouth, her thoughts bringing her back to the situation at hand.
It was unfortunate that today of all days Angela had decided to visit her, but Muriel had always been quick in these kinds of situations. If they'd already been seen entering her apartment by the men outside, then they were now targets linked to her.
She'd been expecting a shoot-out that morning, not a mom with a baby. Muriel would need to do something about them.
Maybe it was a good thing that she had recently planned to move to another town tomorrow, another state even. She hadn't decided on where just yet, but having spotted a few of Carlton's men in the area, especially from the ones she'd spotted last night, she knew it was a matter of time until they figured out which apartment she was in.
"Hold on Angela, I need to make a quick phone call," Muriel spoke before walking to her bedroom quickly hiding her gun from her view.
Muriel's fingers deftly moved as she texted out several messages before switching from screen to screen on her tablet, eyes trained on any changes to the security camera angles.
She couldn't risk the chance of being captured anymore, even if she was older and could probably manage to leave mostly unscathed, she knew it wouldn't stop Carlton or Carlton's men from taking one look at her scarred hand, one look at whoever was with her in that moment to kill them first and then take her.
"Movers are coming at 8:00 AM tomorrow to check what they need to do at your place, but they're scheduled to take the furniture and anything else in about a week or so once you're ready. Here, call me, don't text, call me using this, at this number."
Angela blinked, watching as Merle moved about taking dishes out from the cabinets, moving chairs in the small unit up against the brick wall facing the street as if this was all planned.
