Chapter One
“So, what’ll it be for dinner? Chicken or beef ramen?” Sarah Robins considered both of the Styrofoam cups of noodles she held in her hands—her last two choices for a decent meal before she headed out to work for the night.
Thank God tomorrow was payday so she could make a trip to Walmart and stock up on her staples—ramen, oatmeal, bread, peanut butter and jelly, fruit, and bottled water. Those were the basics she lived on. After she paid her by-the-week motel bill, she was left with around fifty dollars for all her other expenses, including groceries and toiletries.
She’d spent the past five weeks budgeting her money very carefully while also trying to save whatever was left after purchasing only the necessities she needed to get by on. Working twenty-five hours a week for minimum wage at a convenience store and gas station wasn’t ideal. Neither were her swing shift hours that meant she didn’t get off until midnight. But for now, it was a desperately needed job, and she’d do whatever it took to get back on her feet so she could finally leave the city that had brought her nothing but heartache.
Exhaling a deep breath and refusing to dwell on the painful memories of the past, Sarah decided on the chicken ramen. After opening a bottle of water, she filled a ceramic mug and put it into the small, compact microwave she’d bought at a second-hand store. A minute and a half later, she poured the boiling-hot water into the ramen and closed the lid to let it steam while she finished getting ready for work. She pulled on a pair of well worn jeans, a plain T-shirt, and sneakers. Makeup was a luxury she couldn’t afford, so she washed and moisturized her face, then put her hair into a ponytail.
Her stomach growled hungrily, and she picked up her soup and sat down on the bed to eat. Her motel room was small, with just a queen-sized bed, dresser, closet, and bathroom, but it was all she needed for now. And even if the Sleepy Time Motel catered to a less-than-savory clientele who tended to pay for a room by the hour, it was better than the nights she’d spent at the homeless shelter or on the streets. She was grateful she had a place to lay her head every night, with a door that securely locked and bolted, until she was ready to move on.
Her end goal was to make a new life for herself anyplace other than Chicago. She needed to leave here, and soon, because it was just a matter of time before her possessive ex-boyfriend, Dylan, found her. And there was no doubt in Sarah’s mind that he was looking for her. It was hard to forget how he’d threatened to come after her if she ever left him or if she escaped the cult-like compound where they’d lived for nearly three weeks.
A shiver stole through her when she thought about where, exactly, her life had been headed and what she’d been expected to do while living in the gated community. She considered herself lucky she’d managed to get out with just the clothes on her back and a little over fifty dollars in her pocket. But she was now considered a deserter—a punishable offense according to the rules of the Sacrosanct community—which was why she was keeping a low profile and saving everything she could to start over somewhere far away.
This time, she was determined to get it right. To be strong and independent, without relying on a man for anything. She was finished letting her insecurities rule her emotions, and she was done getting involved with the kind of guys who were only out for themselves and ended up using her for their own purposes, like the situation with Dylan that she’d narrowly escaped. The future was all about finally putting the past, and her bad choices, behind her, and she was looking forward to a clean slate.
Finished with her meal, Sarah glanced at the clock on the dresser. The bus would be at her stop in twenty minutes, so she headed out the door and into the early evening dusk. The motel’s parking lot was already alive with activity for a Tuesday night, and Sarah did her best to hold her head up high without making any eye contact with the sleazy men who were there to either score drugs or a prostitute. She was thankful the bus stop was less than a block down the road, but that didn’t stop her from clutching her compact-size mace in her hand.
Once she was settled on the bus, she relaxed for a bit, though she was always keenly aware of her surroundings, especially in this area. She honestly couldn’t wait until she could leave this town and her job at Circle K, and she reminded herself that every day at work brought her that much closer to leaving it all behind.
There was one thing she’d miss once she moved on, though—or rather, one particular person, she thought with a private smile—and that was Levi Kincaid. The gorgeous, hot cop with light green eyes that made her think of the sea glass she’d used to find at the beach when she was a young girl, before she’d lost her entire family to a house fire. Another painful part of her past she didn’t like to dwell on. She much preferred thinking about Levi.
Over the past five weeks, he’d made a habit of stopping at the convenience store around eleven thirty at night with his partner, right before his shift ended—to get a drink and late-night snack for the ride back to the station, or so he claimed. But considering his flirty comments and his blatant interest, she suspected it was all an excuse to see her. He’d even asked her out a few times, but as attracted as she was, and as tempted as he made her feel, she knew the timing was all wrong, and she’d turned him down every single time.
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His attention was flattering, especially since she wasn’t one of those beautiful, confident girls who typically turned a man’s head. At least, not a man as devastatingly sexy as Levi. She was plain and ordinary and certainly nothing special. But for the handful of minutes that Levi spent in the store, charming her with his smile and words, she imagined that she was someone special.
Levi Kincaid was the best part of her night, the one exciting thing she had to look forward to. And she was going to miss him when she was gone.
* * *
“When are you going to face the fact that this chick just isn’t into you?”
Levi Kincaid glanced across the dark interior of the unmarked SUV to his partner, Nick Catalano, who was alternating his attention between navigating the road and making sure Levi saw his smartass smirk. It wasn’t the first time his friend had given Levi shit about his request to stop by Circle K on their way back to the station after their shift ended.
For the past two months, they’d been assigned to the DUI Strike Force in the area, which made stopping by the mart convenient. Seeing and flirting with Sarah Robins was just a bonus.
“She’s totally into me, so that’s not the issue,” Levi refuted confidently, not at all bothered by Nick’s ribbing. There were many times he’d caught the tempting way Sarah looked at him when she didn’t think he was aware of her. And there was no mistaking the attraction between them she was so determined to fight. He just hadn’t figured out why yet. But he would.
“Then what’s the problem?” Nick persisted—this from a man who was all about instant gratification when it came to women, while Levi was more . . . selective.
“I’m not sure yet,” he replied honestly.