While Kayla and Tank were cuddled up in Kentucky in the back of his rig, wrapped in each other's warmth, her stepfather, Vince, couldn't stop thinking about her. Six months. Six whole months, and not a damn word except a random charge at Walmart using her debit card. It didn't sit right with him.

How was she surviving? Where the hell was she? And most importantly—who the hell was she with?

He had driven across town to Josh's parents' house, hoping for answers. If anyone knew where Kayla was, it had to be that damn boy.

Josh stood in the doorway, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Wait—Kayla ran away?"

Vince crossed his arms. "Yeah, and ain't nobody seen or heard from her since."

Josh shook his head, genuinely shocked. Kayla had been his first everything, and even though he didn't always treat her right, he never thought she'd disappear like this. "I—I don't know where she is, man. Last time I talked to her was right before she left."

Josh's mother, Diane, appeared in the doorway, arms folded. "She hasn't reached out to you?"

"No, ma'am." Josh rubbed the back of his neck, clearly troubled. "If I knew, I'd tell y'all. I swear."

Vince studied the boy's face, trying to decide if he was lying. But something told him Josh was just as clueless.

Meanwhile, Martha sat at the kitchen table, staring at the bank statements again. It made no sense. The last charge on Kayla's debit card before she closed the account had been at a Walmart... in Maine.

She shook her head, frustration mounting. "Now how the hell she get to Maine?" she muttered to herself.

Maine. That was so far out of left field, it only made her more suspicious. Kayla wasn't some world traveler. She barely went anywhere without asking for permission.

So what the hell happened? Who took her there? And why?

Vince stepped inside, tossing his keys on the counter. "Josh don't know shit," he grumbled.

Martha sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This ain't makin' sense, Vince. One day she here, the next she gone, and the last thing I know, she was at a damn Walmart in Maine? Maine, Vince?"

"I know," Vince muttered, rubbing his chin. "Something ain't right."

Martha's jaw tightened. "We need to find her."

Martha's sister, Gwen, stepped into the kitchen, shaking her head with a knowing smirk.

"Hmm." Gwen hummed, crossing her arms.

Martha rolled her neck, already exhausted. "What, Gwen?"

"I just can't believe you let your daughter slip between your fingers." Gwen taunted, her voice laced with judgment.

Martha's jaw tightened. "Gwen, this isn't the time."

Gwen waved her off, not the least bit concerned. "It's never the time with you. But the truth is, you were a terrible mother to that girl, and now you're so fixated on her running away like you didn't push her to it."

Martha's face twisted with anger. "I was NOT a terrible mother!" she snapped.

"Oh, really?" Gwen arched a brow. "You beat that girl like she was some random woman in the streets when you found out she was having sex with that boyfriend of hers—hell, you didn't even give her a chance to cover up before you went swinging. And in front of everybody? You humiliated her, Martha. That's not discipline, that's abuse."

Martha flinched, but her pride wouldn't let her acknowledge the truth.

"And let's not forget," Gwen continued, "you let greaseball over here talk to her any kinda way." She cut her eyes at Vince and nudged him like he was a piece of trash in her way.

Vince scoffed. "I can talk to her any way I want. I pay the damn bills in this house."

Gwen smirked and cocked her head. "Correction—you pay the bills in my house. The house I own and rent to y'all at a discount, might I add." She tilted her head smugly, waiting for that to sink in.

Vince clenched his jaw, but before he could fire back, Gwen leaned in. "And you should pay the bills. You're the man, right? But that doesn't give you the right to talk to that girl like she's your damn property. And even if she was your daughter, you still don't treat people like that."

Martha looked off to the side, her arms crossed tightly. Deep down, she knew her sister was right. But admitting that, impossible.

Gwen sucked her teeth. "I just pray wherever my niece is—Maine, Texas, California, or wherever—she's safe. Because for her to get up and leave, it obviously had to be more dangerous here than out in the damn world."

From the hallway, Janay eavesdropped on the conversation, arms folded as she listened. She might've been jealous of the attention Kayla always got, but even she couldn't deny the truth. Her parents had treated Kayla terribly from time to time. And now, it looked like they were paying for it.

Janay shifted uncomfortably as she listened from the hallway. She had always felt like Kayla got more attention than her, but right now, all she could feel was guilt. She had seen the way their mother and her father treated Kayla—heard the insults, witnessed the way her father spoke to her like she was less than nothing. She had just never cared enough to think about how deep it really went.

Now, with Aunt Gwen laying it out so bluntly, Janay was starting to wonder. Had Kayla really left because she felt safer out there than at home?

Martha rubbed her temples, exhaling sharply. "Gwen, if you came here just to talk shit, you can leave."

"Oh, trust me, I plan to." Gwen picked up her purse from the table. "I just needed to say my piece before I go on about my damn business. Unlike some people, I actually care about Kayla. And I'm not about to sit here and pretend like y'all didn't drive her away." She turned toward the door, then stopped and looked over her shoulder. "And let me tell you something, Martha—if Kayla ever comes back and needs somewhere to go, she's got a place with me. And ain't shit you or this bum-ass husband of yours can do about it."

Vince's nostrils flared. "You got a slick ass mouth, Gwen."

"And you got a weak ass backbone, Vince." Gwen shot back, not missing a beat. "Real men don't tear down little girls to make themselves feel big."

Martha's lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing.

With that, Gwen strutted toward the front door, her heels clicking against the floor. She snatched it open and stepped outside without another word.

Janay peeked into the kitchen, staring at her parents. Vince was muttering under his breath, and Martha just stood there, looking lost in thought. For the first time, Janay felt something she never expected to feel about her sister.

She felt sorry for Kayla.

And maybe, just maybe... she even missed her.

Kayla awoke to Tank driving. She was sleeping so good she didn't feel when he removed himself from the bed or felt when the 18-wheeler came to life. Tank had fucked her into a deep sleep, and she lie there under the comforter and her quilt, naked in bliss. Her curly hair was wild all over the pillow as she finally got up.

"My baby finally awoke," Tank teased lightly.

"Mhm," Kayla hummed, stretching.

Tank eyed her briefly as the cover fell a little, revealing her plump breasts. Tank chuckled to himself—since they first met, Tank had managed to get her thicker. Kayla already had a nice shape to her, but she was now filling out in a down-south way, and that was thanks to him. He loved on her body and made sure she ate. Even though Kayla did the majority of the cooking, he still fed her.

Kayla stood, slipping on her shorts and one of Tank's shirts, but before she did so, she ran her hand down her body, savoring last night's activities. Tank watched her, biting his lips. She turned him on like no other.

"What state are we in, big daddy?" Kayla asked, opening a bottle of water before taking her seat in the passenger side, fastening her seatbelt.

"We on the borderline of Nebraska and Iowa. Soon, we'll be in South Dakota," Tank informed her.

Kayla nodded, sipping her water. The cool liquid soothed her throat, but it didn't ease the heat growing between her thighs from the way Tank kept glancing at her. He had that look in his eyes.

Kayla smirked to herself, running her tongue over her lips before looking out the window at the open road. It was something about being on the road with him, something about the freedom of it all, that made her feel like she was exactly where she was meant to be. But she couldn't keep her eyes off him for too long.

Tank glanced over at her, smirking. "Why you lookin' at me like that, lil bit?"

Kayla shrugged, biting her lip. "No reason."

Tank chuckled. "Uh-huh, yo' lil freaky ass already plotting, ain't you?"

Kayla giggled but didn't deny it. Instead, she reached over, running her fingers along his thick thigh, teasing him. Tank groaned low, shaking his head as he adjusted in his seat.

"You tryin' to make me pull this damn truck over?" he warned, gripping the wheel tighter.

Kayla smirked, pulling her hand back and getting comfortable. "I'll behave... for now."

Tank side-eyed her but kept his focus on the road. "Mmhmm, you gon' learn one day, girl. Keep playin'."

Kayla smirked to herself, already knowing she had him right where she wanted him. She leaned her head back, watching the flat plains of Nebraska roll by.

Her phone vibrated, and she picked it up, frowning at the unknown number. Hesitating for a moment, she finally answered.

"Hello?"

There was a pause, then a deep, familiar voice came through the line. "Kayla?"

Her heart stopped. It was Josh.

Tank immediately noticed the way her body tensed, his eyes cutting to her. "Who that?"

Kayla swallowed hard, gripping the phone. "Why are you calling me?" she asked, ignoring Tank's question for now.

"Kayla, where the hell are you? Your mom and stepdad been lookin' for you. They are really worried. What's going on?"

Kayla exhaled sharply, gripping her thigh. "Josh, I don't have time for this."

"Are you okay?" His voice softened. "For real, Kayla. I know I wasn't the best to you, but I still care. And if you in some kinda trouble—"

"I'm fine," Kayla cut in. "I'm better than fine, actually."

Josh sighed. "So, you really just going to disappear? Just like that?"

Kayla hesitated. She could feel Tank's intense gaze on her, his jaw clenched as he waited for her to speak.

"Look, Josh... I gotta go."

Before he could say anything else, she ended the call and dropped the phone in her lap.

"Who the fuck was that?" Tank asked, his voice low and serious.

Kayla licked her lips, glancing at him. "My ex-boyfriend."

Tank's whole body tensed, his grip on the wheel tightening. "What the hell he want?"

Kayla sighed. "He said my people been looking for me. He wanted to know if I was okay."

Tank scoffed. "Now he cares? Man, fuck him."

Kayla nodded, feeling the same way. Josh had his chance. He had plenty of chances.

Tank glanced at her, his face unreadable. "You good?"

She turned to him, reaching over to rest her hand on his. "I'm with you. I'm more than good."

Tank exhaled through his nose, nodding as he brought her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. "Damn right you good. And you mine. Ain't nobody takin' you from me."

Kayla smiled, knowing that was exactly where she wanted to be—right there, in the truck, on the road, with the only man who had ever made her feel safe, loved, and completely free. Kayla didn't have not one care in the world especially when it came to what was going on in Richmond. Kayla chuckled lightly as she licked the last drop of water from her lips, then reached over and ran her fingers along Tank's thick forearm. He was gripping the wheel with one hand, his other resting on his thigh. Her eyes drifted down, spotting the slight bulge in his sweatpants. A slow, satisfied smile spread across her lips.

"You driving good, baby." Kayla purred, rubbing on his arm.

Tank smirked, his eyes never leaving the road. "And you sittin' over there lookin' good." His voice had that thick country twang, the one that made her stomach flip and her thighs clench together.

She let out a playful hum, letting her hand drop down between her own legs, rubbing herself through her shorts. "Mmm... last night got me thinking about how I need some more of my man."

Tank exhaled sharply, gripping the wheel a little tighter. "Lil' bit, don't start somethin' you cain't finish. You know I'll pull this thang over."

Kayla giggled, throwing him a teasing look. "Maybe I want you to pull over."

Tank cut his eyes at her, his lips twitching like he was fighting a smile. "You somethin' else, girl."

She stretched her legs out, arching her back a little, knowing damn well what she was doing. "And you love it."

Tank let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah, I do."

They rode in comfortable silence for a bit, the hum of the engine and the faint sound of the radio filling the space. Kayla watched the flat lands of Nebraska roll by, her mind drifting. She thought about home, but only for a second. She didn't miss it. She didn't miss them.

She looked at Tank—his strong profile, the way he was so focused on the road but still aware of her every move.

"You gon' let me drive today?" she asked suddenly.

Tank glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "You still tryna drive my damn truck?"

"Yes!" Kayla grinned.

Tank chuckled. "Aight. When we stop in South Dakota, I'ma let you get behind the wheel."

Kayla squealed, excited. "Forreal?"

"Yeah, but you better not mess up my gears."

Kayla rolled her eyes playfully. "Boy, I got this."

Tank shook his head, smirking. "Mhm, we gon' see."

Kayla settled back in her seat, watching him, admiring him. She was really out here on the road, free, with a man who adored her. And she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.