Faithful

Chapter Eighteen

He was correct when he said I'd wake up in a hotel room. I looked around searching for the time. There was a small digital clock next to the bed I was on, 6am. Blake was slumped over looking rather uncomfortable as he slept on an arm chair. I got out of bed and walked towards him. "Blake," I whispered, "up you get... into bed." Surprisingly with my help he got up and into the bed... I'm pretty sure all whilst still asleep.

Once I got him tucked in I went to the bathroom, took off my clothes and showered. I decided not to wake him with the harsh sound of a hairdryer so I wrapped my hair in a big dry towel, put on a dressing gown and jumped back into bed to try and sleep a little longer. His breathing was calm so he was having a deep sleep which would do him some good since he's been on the ball all the time driving. It wasn't long until I was drifting back to sleep beside him in the super comfy double bed.

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I felt a warm breath against my face. I opened my eyes and there was Blake staring at me as I slept. "Good morning to you too," I laughed as if his staring was nothing which it was to me be I'd understand if any other girl would freak out. I got up to survey the room... coffee and a kettle! "Brew?" I offered, lifting one of the white mugs. "Coffee black, two sugars," he replied, "your hair's wet.. go dry it first or you'll get ill." I did as I was told but it didn't take long so I went back to brew duty.

"Two sugars is bad for you, I'm only putting one in," I sighed. "Okay... mum," he chuckled. I turned to face him, put my hands on my hips and said sternly but as a joke, "go to your room right now young man!" He just sat there laughing. Kettle had boiled and brews were ready. I jumped back on the bed once I'd put the coffee's down. "Why did you move me into the bed?" He queried. "Well that would be because you're driving all the time, so you'll be stiff because of that and then sleeping on that god awful chair will most definitely not help either," I explained.

He looked puzzled by me but quickly regained his thoughts to say, "thank you... you drink your coffee black too?" I nodded and took a sip. "Well Blake, since we're going to be together for a while we best start getting to know each other!" I continued, "so then what were your hobbies... I'm guessing you don't really have time for them these days like myself." He though for a moment and said, "scouts... I used to help out in the scouts." I got so excited when he said that. "SNAP...thank god for the Baden-Powell family, leader in training for girl guides!" I squealed in excitement.

"Where have you been all my life!" He laughed. "Well... in the last six months I've been in Russia, Italy, France, New York and Corsica," I sighed, "before that I was in a little town near Yorkshire... literally you walk over a hill and you're in Yorkshire." He sat listening for a moment when it dawned on me, "you where there when I was explaining everything yesterday... you laughed when I was explaining what happened!" He nodded. "Ever since Paris I've been on standby in case you escaped again," he explained.

"I did not escape, there was nothing to escape from.. I ran away!" I added. "Running away means there's a chance of you going back," he sighed, "you seriously want to go back to them?" I thought for a moment. "Not sure yet, there's still the issue of which one to go back to," I admitted, "which may be settled by the dispute of which one will catch me first... which I'm sorry to say no matter how careful we are, one of them will find me eventually." Blake frowned.

"I won't let them take you..." he vowed. I shook my head. "There an army of bad people, you're one perfect mercenary and I'm a girl with serious Stockholm Syndrome... anything could happen," I argued. He looked like I do when someone challenges me. "You are the most incredible girl I've met in my twenty one years... I'm not letting you disappear on me," he told me, taking my chin and bringing me closer to him, "I will always protect you." I blushed completely.

He pulled me closer once again but not like Viktor or Josh or anyone has before. His actions were not to make me his possession, he just hugged me. I couldn't hold back the tears. I haven't been held like this by anyone but my parents. All the men have only wanted me for sexual reasons, even Viktor's hugs usually end up being some form of kiss or sex but Blake was hugging me just to comfort me. "Hey hey hey, you're safe with me... those men will never hurt you or toy with your emotions again," he whispered.

"But I love Viktor... and I have some messed up feelings for Josh," I sobbed in his arms. "No buttercup you don't," he sighed, "they've messed with your head and made you have feelings that you thought was love... they used you and gave you the love and attention you desperately needed because of the awful situations you were in... it's not love Annabelle... love's special and is gained over time." He leaned over the bed and grabbed a tissue from the tissue box on the bedside table. He gently dried my tears and gave me a smile.

"Cheer up you, we have to get on the road in a bit, I'm going having a shower and you get changed," he ordered politely. He got out of bed and went into the bathroom. I lay down for a moment contemplating him. He's nice and I like him. He hasn't tried to take advantage of me yet, he hugged me and he hasn't even contemplated kissing me let alone tried. He wants to help. Yep I've landed myself a nice guy who won't try things on with me. I happily got out of bed and began getting changed. I had put my underwear on when the bathroom door opened.

"Holy mother of god..." Blake exclaimed and then shut his eyes, "please tell me I didn't just see that." I laughed, "don't be such a prude... I'm in my underwear, I'm not naked." I ignored him and put my jeans on. "Are you dressed yet?" He asked. I told him yeah but he nearly died when I he saw I still didn't have a top on. "Oh get over it," I laughed but then I looked at him, only wearing a towel around his waist. "Nice six pack... why does all the guys I see topless have a six pack?" I asked myself. I put my top on and leather jacket then went by with my shoes and socks making sure I turned around not to look at him naked.

"You ready?" He asked. I turned around to find him fully dressed and ready to go. "Breakfast please," I replied which he gave me a 'seriously' look. "We'll get something in a bit, it's already 10am and we should've set off an hour ago... they may be closing in on us," he sighed. Curious I cautiously looked through the curtains outside. "Shit..." I whispered, "they may have already found us." He rushed over to look at the smartly dressed men hovering outside.

"Who's men are they?" He asked. I carefully looked out again and walked over to the door looking at the fire escapes. "Alexei... that's Stepanov's people... right you go out and get the car and take it to the fire exit... here... I'll take the stairs and wait for you there," I bossed him, "Alexei's not afraid to shoot me down to get me... I'd rather not go out there when I know he's got a gun!" I took a deep breath and hugged him. "Good luck not looking suspicious!" I laughed. "Good luck not getting shot at!" He chuckled, "take this just in case."

He passed me the gun I used yesterday. I winked at him. If I get the chance I'm gonna shoot him in the leg for payback. We went and he took the lift and acted all 'thank you I've had a wonderful stay' before happily walking out towards the car like a normal citizen. I on the other hand cautiously avoided been seen in the main entrance and whispered to the receptionist across from the stairs, "help... my ex husband is out there and I can't be seen by him... could you help me sneak over to the fire exit so my boyfriend can get me out of here?"

The lady totally got it and called for a cleaning lady with a huge trolley to cover me as I crawled to the fire exit. I gave her a thumbs up which she smirked at me for and I got out. Unfortunately as soon as the fire exit opened they spotted it... fortunately, Blake was there ready and waiting for me. I got in the car and rolled down the window to see Alexei running towards me. "ANNABELLE!" He shouted. "Sorry Alexei but its about time I payed you back for my leg!" I laughed and shot at him giving him a slight graze... less than what mine was.

"ANNABELLE BREWER WHEN ERIC AND VIKTOR GET THEIR HANDS ON YOU, YOU'RE GONNA BE IN DEEP SHIT!" He screamed. "I WOULDN'T COUNT FOR ANYTHING LESS!" I laughed. He gave me a smile and a salute as we drove off into the distance. "You've got a weird relationship with these guys," Blake chuckled. "He knew he deserved that so he probably saw that coming anyway!" I giggled, "they're not bad people, they're all just in a very precarious business!" He shook his head and got us onto the motorway where he could seriously put his foot down to gain some ground.