DISCLAIMER:
This book contains mature subject matter and triggering topics that may not be suitable for every reader.
• • •
"What is it that I always tell you, Winona? You'll always come back to me. A bird never forgets its home."
Winona Horton ha...
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August 2010 • • •
"You got pancake mix on my shirt."
Kade's amused laughter rang out in the kitchen as he deftly flipped a pancake in the frying pan, his attention unwavering from his task despite her sullen demeanor. The previous night, she and Wes had planned to spend the night in their car before continuing their journey. But after a wild night of drugs and drinks, Wes had crashed on the couch around three in the morning. Kade had allowed them to stay, despite the potential consequences of harboring two fugitives.
It was a moral conundrum for any host to allow fugitives into their home, and the legal implications were just as grave. By sheltering them, Kade was putting himself in danger of facing serious charges and imprisonment. Yet, he continued to offer them shelter, leaving her with mixed feelings. Though grateful for Kade's kindness, she couldn't help but feel apprehensive about his motives.
"When is Wes gonna wake up?" she inquired of the older man, using her fingers to rub away the stain on her shirt. "Do people usually sleep this long when they drink?"
"Are you in a rush?" Kade switched off the stove and picked up the pan. He tilted it, and one of the pancakes landed on a white plate. "That was a dumb question. Of course you're in a rush."
Winona rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. "I'm worried about him. He looks drained."
With a concerned expression etched on her face, Winona scanned Wes's sleeping figure from the kitchen doorway, taking in his disheveled appearance and the dark circles under his eyes. She couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for him, wondering how much longer he could keep up the grueling pace they had been keeping since they fled Homestead.
As Kade finished plating the pancakes and turned to face her, she tried to suppress her unease, forcing a smile onto her face. "What happened to the other people who were here? Jennifer and Jacob."
"Her name is Jessica," he corrected her. "And she left with Jacob and Tony when you fell asleep."
He had been kind enough to let her doze off in the spare bedroom down the hall. She expected Wes to join her, but she guessed he only fell asleep after shutting down like an old computer with all the alcohol in his system.
"Are they your good friends?"
"Tony is." He handed her one of the plates of syrup-covered pancakes and a fork, a tiny smile brightening his face. She saw his features a lot better now that it was morning. He wasn't rough, yet there wasn't much to his face that made him stand out other than his tattoos and muscle tone. "Jessica's my ex-girlfriend and the guy with her is her new boyfriend."
Winona thanked him for the breakfast, walked to the breakfast bar, and sat on one of the stools. "Why does she still come around if she's your ex-girlfriend? Isn't it awkward?"
