As I walked down my hotel hallway, I saw my room door wide open with my very few belongings scattered everywhere. My pillows and mattress was off the bed with the lamps and decorations broken on floor. Glass crunched into the carpet under high heels as I walked around slowly in complete shock and fear. I saw that most of my guns and knives of my own were missing and the weapons that came with the room where completely gone. Of course.

"Genevieve." Someone breathed behind me making me turn around quickly. I let go of a breath as I saw Nathan walking towards me slowly as if I was a ticking bomb. "What are you doing here?" I spit in slight annoyance not wanting to deal with our mess right now. I needed to pack up the remaining possessions I had left and get Rose before they do.

"I need to help you. I can't let you leave to deal with this yourself. I'm responsible for this." He said motioning around the room slightly. "No, you're not I am. I let... curiously get in the way of my work." I replied looking away running my fingers through my messy dark brown hair.

Rushing towards my bed to grab my duffle bags underneath before shoving my things inside from off the floor. "There has to be something else we can do?" He asked making me scoff. "We?" I said moving frantically around the room grabbing my things. "Why should I when I can just stick to what I'm good at? Running. I've erased myself before I can do it again." I stated standing looking up to him with my bag. I've lost count of all the fake identities I've had throughout the years.

Looking away from him to drop my things before taking off my coat changing out of my bloody clothes not caring about Nathan standing there. I quickly threw on a black tee shirt as I spoke. "They won't stop until I'm dead. That's how this works. I must leave." I said moving past him after taking off my pencil skirt to grab a pair of leggings.

Grabbing my last two guns shoving one in my waistband and shoved the rest in my bag. "So, that's it then." Nathan said as I began to leave. Stopping in place to turn around looking him in the eye. I memorized his features as he looked at me masking his confusion and hurt.

"Get more security. He won't stop before he kills you for whatever you did to piss him off." I said making him frown. I hated how closed off and callous I was being, but I couldn't let him care enough about me to continue trying to help me. There was no use. "I'm sorry. Genuinely." I stepped closer to him making him do the same.

"Goodbye, Nathan." I said seriously looking at him as we stood far apart as I stood in the doorway. I ignored the ache in my chest as I looked away to turn and rush down the hallway. As I pressed the elevator button for the ground floor, I saw Nathan leaving my hotel room before the doors closed.

After taking a cab to my brother's house, I rushed up to his front door with the cab waiting with my bags before knocked at the door. It took a few minutes before he finally opened it obvious, he had been sleeping.

"Gen? What are you doing here?" Nick asked squinting making me realize how late it was. "I'm here for Rose." I said making him part his lips confused. "What?" He asked making me fill with anxiety and impatience. "I-I thought about what you said." I began as I pushed past him to come inside. "About getting a stable job and buying a home to settle down." I continued as he closed the door behind me. "At two in the morning? You couldn't have waited until later?" Nick asked looking down at me as if I had grown a second head.

"Please, Nick." I begged looking up at him. There was a moment of silence as he looked down at me with sadness through his confusion before we heard Stephanie. "Gen?" She asked coming down the stairs holding her arms to preserve heat. "What are you doing here?" Stephanie asked walking towards Nick making me look over at him ignoring her.

"I'm here for Rose. I have a cab waiting." I said anxiously wanting to hurry. "What? In the middle of the night?" She asked making Nick walk closer to her to calm her down. "She's, my daughter. I shouldn't need to explain myself." I beamed with tears in my eyes making her scoff.

"Yes, we do! Considering we're the ones who have been raising her." Stephanie replied making me look away from her. "I've made a mistake by putting my job ahead of her. Not seeing her nearly as often as I should be has pained me. I want to change things before it's too late. I'm going to buy a house and be the mother I should've been a long time ago." I said up at Nick as he looked down at me sympathetically as Stephanie frowned filling with anger.

"Now? She has school, friends-" She began until Nick interrupted. "Okay." Nick answered making us look up at him. "Okay?" We asked in unison. Stephanie angrier than my quiet, emotional demeanor.

"It's obvious you're passionate about leaving. I can only imagine it must've been something important to make you come here in the middle of the night. Just promise me she'll be safe." Nick said walking towards me making me nod before giving him a tight hug. Pulling away before rushing up the stairs as I heard Stephanie argue with Nick behind me.

I walked towards Rose's bedroom peeking in slowly to see her sleeping soundly. Walking through her room kneeling on her bedside as she continued to sleep. I ran my finger softly down her nose a few times before she gently woke up. "Mommy?" She asked through a sleepy smile as I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'm sorry to wake you. I've just missed you so much." I whispered making her inch closer to me. "It's alright." She whispered back as I ran my fingers through her soft brown hair. "Do you want to come live with mommy?" I asked feeling guilty knowing she had a healthy, normal life here. A curious smile crept onto her sleepy features pulling at my heart strings.

"Yes! Where are we going?" Rose asked sitting up on her bed making me smile. "Anywhere you'd like." I breathed through a smile as I tilted her chin up softly with my finger. "I've always wanted to go to a beach! I'm sick of the snow." She exclaimed making me chuckle knowing she got that from me. "Then let's hurry. I'll help you pack your things." I said making her get out of her bed excited.

Grabbing her sparkly backpacks with her favorite tv characters from her closet putting the clothes inside. Rose grabbed all her stuffed animals and trinkets I've given her throughout the years before putting them in the duffel bag I held open. After a few more minutes there were four bags of clothes and toys. She had much more than I did making me smile. When Rose was finally satisfied, she put on her coat over her jammies and held her favorite stuffed animal ready to go.

We walked back downstairs where Nick and Stephanie waited for us still arguing. I placed the bags on the floor to pick up Rose to hold on my hip. "Thank you, Nick." I said eternity grateful he trusted me as much as he did. Knowing I didn't give him much reason to. I looked up into his comforting, warm eyes that we shared making him nod with a weak smile. "Promise to visit." Nick said walking up to us making me nod sadly knowing how much he loved her.

He looked down at Rose in my arms making her smile. "I'll miss you little munchkin." He said with a bright smile running his hand down her head trying to fight the sadness. Nick tickled her stomach before taking her from my arms to hug her. "Make sure you have fun and make lots of friends." Nick said to her as he held her making her nod as tears collected in my eyes.

"Thank you for taking care of her for as long as you have. It really means more to me than you'll ever know." I confessed to the both of them as he gave me back Rose. "Of course." He replied with a smile making me smile back weakly.

Walking back over to the bags making him follow me to grab them for me. We walked out the door towards the cab in silence before he put the bags in the trunk. I put Rose in the cab before turning to face Nick and Stephanie again. "I promise we'll come back." I assured knowing how much he loved her.

He nodded engulfing me in another hug longer and tighter than before. I knew this wasn't the first time I'd left Nick but this time it felt different than all the others. I wiped my tears away quickly as I finally pulled away from him. Sighing heavily turning around before getting in the cab with Rose. I closed the door looking over at Rose as the cab drove away. She moved closer to me before laying down, placing her head on my lap. We drove out of town for hours until the sun began to rise until we arrived at another hotel to sleep.

Holding sleeping Rose as I walked into our new hotel room. The employee helped us with our bags and placed them on the bed making me smile weakly as I tipped him. Locking the door behind him before walking her to the large bed. It wasn't as luxurious as the hotel I was previously staying at since we weren't going to stay for more than a day.

Tucking her into bed as I softly kissed her forehead and turned off the lights leaving the bathroom one on for her. I took off my coat before getting into bed beside her snuggling beside Rose making her turn around to face me. My chin was resting softly on the top her head as I held her never tearing my eyes away from the door. Never sleeping a wink that night as I stayed awake making sure nothing would happen in case we were followed. Rose was still sleeping as the clock read noon.

Changing in a sweater and jeans, I threw my messy bed head in a bun. Sighing as I left the bathroom to wake up Rose needing to leave soon. "Who wants pancakes?" I asked in a low sing song voice moving the hair away from her face making her smile with her eyes closed. "With extra chocolate chips. And bananas!" I whispered through my smile as she finally opened her eyes in excitement making me chuckle. "Come on. I'm hungry." I whined making her giggle before getting out of bed.

I changed her out of her pajamas before we put on our coats and left the hotel room with our things. I buckled Rose in the car I had rented in a fake name. Driving through states for what seemed like an hour until Rose began to complain before pulling into a diner. We walked up to the brightly lit diner before we were seated by a chipper waitress. The diner was starting to become busy as we decided what to order. After ordering our late breakfast, we waited for our food thinking about all the things I needed to do.

"What happened to Mr. Vegetable belt?" Rose asked with a full mouth snapping me out of my thoughts making me smile softly. "Nothing, honey. I just didn't need to work there anymore." I answered making her nod. "Is that why you're finally back?" She asked making my heart ache feeling so guilty for not being around more. "Yes, honey." I smiled weakly. We continued to eat and talk about how exciting living by the beach will be. I loved seeing her smile and gush in happiness.

We were driving further out of town before stopping at a nearby gas station. Bringing Rose inside the gas station with me never taking my eyes off her. I pumped gas as Rose read and played with her stuffed animals in the back seat. Continuing to drive looking over my shoulder paranoid that we were being followed before I stopped again at a bank to take out my remaining cash.

I had almost two million dollars making my lips not realizing I had that much saved. Only taking out as much as I could knowing I couldn't take all of my money out at once at an ATM before walking away quickly. Driving again for what seemed like an hour before finally stopped at a convenient store to get snacks.

I put on my black bob wig and glasses to change my appearance as much as I could. Placing Rose inside the cart moving throughout the store picking out the road trip snacks we wanted. "What blankly do you want, baby?" I asked as we walked slowly through the fuzzy children's blankets. "I like the kitties!" She beamed pointing to the white plush blanket with different cat faces. I grabbed it before giving it to her making her smile down at it brightly.

Grabbing myself a blue blanket and us a pillow for the days we may need to sleep in the car depending on where we are. I put a black and pink car seat in the cart for Rose before walking through the toy aisles after she repeated begged.

"Another stuffie?" I asked as she grabbed an elephant stuffed animal. She just looked up at me with her bright doe eyes as she smiled hugging the elephant. Her cuteness pulled at my heart strings making it difficult for me to ever say no to her.

"Okay, honey. But no more. I mean it." I replied stern before walking slowly towards the checkout lines. As we walked back to the car, I placed everything in the trunk before heading to another hotel as the sun began to set. I knew tomorrow I would need to ditch this car and get one with another of fake name.

"Are you sleepy? We had a busy day today." I said as we walked into our nice hotel room making her nod. "I'll order room service while you get in your jammies and watch cartoons." I smiled putting our bags on the bed making her smile as I turned on the tv. My phone rang when I was about to pull out her pajamas realizing I should have gotten rid of it a long time ago. Huffing in annoyance knowing my worry for Rose was keeping me distracted and forgetting the basic stuff I'm used to doing. Risking us actually staying safe.

My heart bested erratic seeing it was Nathan making me frown I reluctantly answered getting annoyed by the sound. "What, Nathan?" I asked under my breath walking into the other room. "I wanted to make sure you were alright." He said making me sigh turning around away from Rose to sit on the bed.

"Is there anything I can do?" Nathan asked making me realize it was going to be hard trying to forget about him. "You can stop calling. We're fine." I stated quickly needing to hang up. "Where are you?" He asked making me sigh. "Goodbye, Nathan." I hung up hearing Rose walking towards me.

"Bath time, baby. What do you want for dinner?" I asked as I picked her up grabbing her pajamas before walking towards the bathroom. "Pizza!" She beamed making me chuckle. "Only if you eat your vegetables." I stated as I placed her on the sink looking down at her as she groaned.

"Don't worry we'll have sundaes for dinner as a treat." I smiled down at her making me feel better about everything for a moment. I gave her a bath before she changed into her pajamas. I ordered pizza and vegetables from the room service as Rose watched cartoons. When I was finished, I grabbed my phone and brought it into the bathroom away from Rose. I dropped it on the floor before stepping on it repeatedly.

I left before throwing my phone in the trash shoot right next to the door. Sighing I knew I should take a shower still having some blood on me from last night, but I was extremely hesitant on leaving her alone. "Do you want to play a game before dinner?" I asked making her smile at me away from the tv.

"I want you to time, mommy on how fast I can take a shower." I smiled handing her a timer. I didn't want to leave her for even a second even if she was only in the other room. At least this way it seemed like a fun game for her.

She nodded excitedly as I quickly got undressed before wrapping a towel around me as she stared at the timer. Taking the ponytail out of my hair walking towards her. "Ok, don't press it until I say go." I said in fake excitement making her nod quickly.

"And... go!" I said stepping into the shower instantly relaxing under the hot water. Hearing Rose's giggles made me snap out of my relaxed state and quickly clean my hair. Shaving and cleaning the rest of my body before standing under the hot water for a few moments. Closing my eyes feeling my tense muscles start to relax after all of these days.

Washing my face before I turned off the shower as I grabbed a towel before opening the shower curtain. "How'd I do?" I asked making her smile as she looked down at my phone. "Six minutes and thirty seconds!" Rose beamed making me smile stepping out of the shower putting a towel around my hair. "Tomorrow we should see if you can beat me." I smiled walking towards her taking her off the counter. "Go finish watching tv. Dinner will be here soon." I said making her leave and jump onto the bed.

Sighing taking the towel off my head before brushing through my naturally curly dark brown hair. Quickly getting ready for bed before making my way back into the room. I watched as Rose giggled at the cartoon as I heard a knock at the door making me practically jump out of my skin.

Grabbing one of my hidden guns in my bag away from reach from Rose and walking towards the door with it hiding behind my back. Looking through the peep hole seeing an employee of the hotel with a cart of food. "Good evening, ladies." He said making me and Rose smile weakly before he stopped and smiled waiting for a tip.

"Thanks. Have a nice night." The man said after I handing him a bill poking out of my purse. Sighing, quickly putting my gun away hidden from Rose before joining her. "How is it?" I asked smiling as she nodded taking another bite of food. "It's really good." She smiled as I began to eat sitting criss cross beside her on the bed.

After we finished eating, we watched tv until Rose grew tired. Gently moving away from her as she laid on me to turn off the tv. Walking into the bathroom after tucking her into bed trying on the black bob wig I bought. I was extremely paranoid about being recognized and getting us killed. I couldn't let anything happen to Rose. I would do absolutely anything to ensure her safety.