On The Run: Original Work From The Tumblr Author

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Lisedi

We fight hard but we love harder. That's a simple way of summarizing our relationship since leaving Toronto. The situation at hand was a lot for both of us to take on, no matter how strong we thought we were. Last night showed that. We needed each other. We were stronger together. I forgave him for everything, he did the same. We made love. He held me close until I had fallen asleep. I woke up the same way, seeing that he never let go of me throughout the night.

Before I opened my eyes, part of me wished that I'd wake up and be back in my apartment. Even though I knew that wasn't the case, I felt a little sad when I opened them. I'd give anything to be back in Canada with my family and have Aubrey by my side.

My head laid on his chiseled chest as my eyes wandered the room four times the size of a standard bedroom. The beige walls beautifully accented with gold decor, elegant mahogany drapes, pricey accent chairs. Our mattress felt like a could, high quality sheets and comforter sat atop a grand, antique canopy bed facing the balcony with a view of the Caribbean Sea. This would be so much more enjoyable with the man I love if I didn't fear for my life the moment I stepped outside those doors.

I said a prayer to myself, asking God to keep us safe and get us back across the water and soon. But how? My mind immediately went to Ethan and what he said to me that day. He described how we ended up in the current situation. Reactions to a misunderstanding with a mix of impatience, lack of trust, betrayal and threats to loved ones. Ethan knew he made a bad decision by betraying his friend. I could see it in his eyes.

Aubrey started to stir a little. He gave a tight squeeze and kissed the top of my head.

"Good morning," he mumbled, "you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said quietly.

"You feel tense," he kissed my head again, "you're okay here with me. I promise."

His sleepy voice was so cute. Eyes remained closed, showing his long thick lashes.

I sighed, knowing I had to ruin this little moment to tell him about my run in with Ethan. He needed to know. It may get us a step closer to getting out of here.

"Babe?"

"Mmhmm?"

"I need to talk to you about something."

"Gimme ten more minutes," he buried his face in my hair.

"It's important," I said, "can we talk now?"

His eyes opened immediately as he yawned and stretched, "What's going on?"

He sat up and rested his back against the headboard. I moved with him, staying cuddled with my head on his chest.

"Don't be mad at me, promise?"

"I don't like how that sounds, Liz."

"Promise?"

"I'll promise to try to not be mad," his voice still groggy, "what's up?"

"The other day when I went to Paolo and Guadalupe's...you asked me about the cut on my mouth and I said it was from playing with the kids..."

"Yeah..."

"I lied."

He rubbed his hand over his face, "what happened?"

"When I got in the car to head back here Simo had a knife to his neck from someone in the backseat. Before I could look there was a gun to my head...it was Ethan."

He rubbed his beard, looking down at his lap for a few seconds, "why the hell are you just now telling me this?"

I sat up and straddled his thighs so that we were face to face.