The Convict

Home Sweet Home

"We don't have to go back you know," Dakota turns over in bed to face me. "We could just... stay here forever," she holds my gaze while using her right hand to brush my hair behind my ear.

I sigh and turn my body to face her, letting the covers fall and expose my bare breast. I grab her hand in my own, interlocking our fingers.

"If we don't go back they'll know," I say.

"They are going to figure it out anyway, let's just make a run for it. Go to Mexico. You speak Spanish right?"

"How would we survive? They'd freeze my accounts, we'd be penniless, not to mention we'd be international criminals. Running now would just give us away. We have to be smart about this."

She sighs in frustration, relaxing into the bed.

"I know," I kiss the back of her hand. "I know this sucks for you, but we can't make a mistake now. We've come so far. Look at us, at a seaside resort, enjoying ourselves. We worked hard to build you a fake identity, don't be so quick to throw it away. Especially when there is no reason to. The cops aren't suspecting me anymore, we just have to lay low until it blows over."

"Okay," she says softly.

"Come here," I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head.

We lay in silence for a moment as I traced my hand up and down her bare back, trying to soothe her. We still have a couple of hours before we have to check out and start heading back. I glance over to the nightstand where my phone lights up from a notification. I leave it.

When we finally get up and shower and pack up I check my phone and see another message from Facebook. From Antonia's mom.

'You can't ignore us forever.'

I scroll up the conversation, glancing over all the messages she's sent me since Dakota's escape.

'Have you seen the news?'

'I'm sorry for your loss.'

'They are saying Dakota is alive, is that true?'

'Do you know anything?'

'Has Dakota contacted you?'

'If you know where she is you need to tell me, she belongs in prison for what she did to my daughter.'

'The cops think you know something, do you?'

'Where is Dakota?'

'Where are you hiding her?'

'If you aren't hiding her prove it! Talk to me, otherwise I'll know you are.'

'Don't make me go through all this again. Be the better person Melony.'

'I want to start a task force to find Dakota, are you in?'

'The more you ignore me the more I think you know something.'

'You can't ignore us forever.'

I sigh and hover over the block button, but I know if I do that I might wake the slumbering giant. Antonia learned her wickedness from somewhere, and I have a feeling I know where. Blocking Mrs. Hernedez might just set her over the edge and make her come after me. I sigh and exit it out of the chat, not responding.

"Ready?" Dakota asks as she finishes putting the final touches on her Dani disguise.

"Yeah," I force a smile.

Time to head back to reality.

Dakota grabs our bags while I go and check out. I meet her back in the car. Then we start the long drive back to the house.