Brooklyn ran into the hallway and froze. The months of fear and feeling hunted flooded her mind and body. She struggled to think. What should she do? Fluffikins’ fur reminded her sheneeded clothes. She definitely didn’t want to wrangle with Brent like this.
Ripping off her diaper as she dashed for the nursery, Brooklyn threw it into the trash. He couldn’t catch her in that. Brooklyn didn’t stop to consider how Brent would react to that. Heavy pounding on the door made her jump. Brent would get in, even if he had to break a window. Her heart raced as she grabbed underwear and scrambled into the clothes Caden had put on her that morning.
In full panic mode, Brooklyn struggled to make a plan. If she backed her car out of the driveway, Brent would attack her vehicle. A buzz caught her attention. The phone.
Spotting Daddy on the screen identifying the caller, she grabbed the phone on the rocking chair and whispered into it as the call connected. “Daddy. He’s here. Brent. He’s trying to get in.”
“I’m on my way, little girl. Stay out of sight. If he gets in, grab anything you can use for a weapon. Fight if you have to.”
Something thumped on the windows. Thankfully, Caden hadn’t opened the blinds that morning. “Brooklyn! Don’t make me angrier. Come out and let’s go. That military guy isn’t coming to save you. They’ve got a big mess on their hands on base.”
She didn’t answer. Each word hit her like a stone. She’d experienced Brent’s anger before she left. In her gut, she understood this time he wouldn’t simply hurt her. He’d kill her.
A murmur of Caden’s voice came through the phone line. Outside, Brent paused. Could he hear that? She backed into the hallway and whispered, “Sh! He’s listening.”
Caden immediately stopped talking. Brooklyn left the line open so he could hear, but stuffed her phone into her bra. She’d try to give him updates about what was happening. Thinking furiously, she searched for a weapon.The knives in the kitchen!
Dropping to her knees in case he’d returned to peer into the front windows, Brooklyn crawled behind the furniture to the kitchen. She dared to reach over the counter to grab the block of knives and returned to crouch low on the floor. Brooklyn grabbed a long, thin knife and the big butcher’s knife. She placed the block on the floor and eased the oven open. As quietly as possible, she stashed the rest of the set inside. Maybe that would keep him from using the blades on her.
She shuddered at the idea before searching for a hiding spot. The big, open space didn’t provide any shelter. If he got inside, Brent would expect her to lock herself in a bathroom or bedroom. He wouldn’t expect for her to stay here. Brooklyn turned to the pantry and forced herself forward. She hadn’t walked inside that storage room since her accident.
Considering the space inside, Brooklyn saw she had two choices. She could crawl under the bottom shelf and pull a case of water in front of her. If he spotted her there, Brent would loom over her, weakening her efforts to defend herself. A window shattered next in the family room. Brooklyn stood on her tiptoes to set the knives down before grabbing a shelf and climbing. Moving as silently as possible, she clung onto the wood as she shifted the presents that remained on the top shelf.
“Come out, come out, Brooklyn. Why hide? I will find you.”
Brooklyn forced herself to move through her terror as he bellowed, using the frightening sound as cover. As she suspected, he’d immediately headed into the hallway. She stretched out on the top shelf and pulled Caden’s presents in front of her.
“Fucking bitch! You’re always so much trouble,” Brent screamed from the back of the house.
He’ll be coming soon.
Her trembling shoulders rustled the wrapping paper. Brooklyn struggled to stop the movement. She wanted to talk toher daddy, but in the cramped space she worried she’d knock something off the shelf if she retrieved her phone from under her shirt. Suddenly the volume of Brent’s shouts increased, and she guessed he was returning.
“What’s that room back there, Brooklyn? Are you pregnant? Dreaming of rocking your bastard baby in that rocking chair?”
Her heart lurched in her chest at the thought he’d invaded her special room. If she survived this, she’d deal with the negativity he’d left in the house.
The knives!She’d forgotten them on the shelf below her. Moving as quickly as she dared, Brooklyn snaked a hand out to reach for them. Her fingers brushed the handles, and she grabbed one.
“Every moment I search for you means more pain for you. I’ve dreamed of breaking your bones, Brooklyn. Forget London Bridge is falling down, I’m going to watch Brooklyn Bridge fall down—even if I have to shatter your shins to bring you down.”
Brooklyn grabbed for the second knife, slicing her finger on the blade. She bit her lip to stop herself from crying out and trailed along the metal to the wooden handle.Please get here, Daddy. Please!
Light appeared along the edges of the pantry door as he pushed it open. Peeking between the packages in front of her face, Brooklyn could see him scan the room. His first move? Brent kicked the case of water on the floor.
Biting her lip, Brooklyn celebrated her decision not to hide there. Brent searched the bottom shelves, tossing boxes and small appliances like the toaster as she held her breath. His gaze rose higher, and he scanned the storage area below her. He was going to find her.
“Presents? Did your soldier buy you something special, Brooklyn? You’ve fooled him just like you pulled the wool over my eyes.”
Time seemed to freeze as he reached up for the package in front of her. When his fingers wrapped around the box in front of her face, Brooklyn thrust the sharp blade forward.
His scream turned her blood to ice. Brent recoiled, falling against the open door with a loud bang. Brooklyn struggled to think quickly. What should she do?
Brent lunged forward. The silence now seemed deadly without his threats. A thick arm stopped Brent in his tracks, and she recognized Caden’s buzz cut as he yanked Brent into the kitchen. She could hear Brent’s yells and thuds.
“Go get your girl. We’ve got this.” That wasn’t her daddy. Was the entire team in the house? She hadn’t heard any of them.
Caden appeared in the doorway. He reached out immediately to sweep her off the shelf. His urgent motion swept the presents off the shelf without a second thought. Her daddy hugged her hard to his chest as he carried her out of the house into the driveway as sirens filled the air.
