Prologue
Jason's bootsthunkedacross the floor, heavy with anger.Annie's stomach clenched.
Leigh, her older sister, sat stiffly on the couch beside her, hands folded tightly in her lap, eyes fixed on the television though she wasn't watching.
Jason's ruddy cheeks let her know that he had already started drinking.Her gaze dropped to the badge clipped to his shirt.Leigh had told her how he liked to stop at another policeman's house and relax before coming home.
His gaze swept the room, sharp and mean, until it landed on Leigh."Dinner cold again?"
His voice was low, dangerous.The hair on Annie's arms prickled, warning her of his mood.They'd had dinner three hours ago.
Leigh rose quickly."I'll heat it—"
The back of his hand cracked across her sister's face before she could finish.She stumbled, catching herself against the wall, her breath sharp and shallow.Annie shot to her feet, fury burning through her veins.
"Stop it!"she cried.
Jason turned, his lip curling."What did you say?"
Annie's fists clenched, her body shaking.She wanted to lunge at him, to claw at his face, to make him feel even a fraction of the pain he had caused her sister.But Leigh's hand shot out, gripping Annie's wrist hard.
"Don't," Leigh whispered, her eyes wide, pleading.
Jason sneered, satisfied, and stalked toward the kitchen.The sound of cabinets slamming followed.Each crash was a reminder of his growing rage.
Annie's chest heaved, her throat tight."I can't stand here and let him hurt you," she hissed, tears burning her eyes.
Leigh shook her head, her voice low and steady despite the bruise already forming on her cheek."If you fight him, he'll kill you.He'll kill us both.Please...don't."
Annie's heart broke at the words.She wanted to scream, to run, to drag her sister out of the house at that very moment.But she saw the truth in Leigh's eyes.Her sister had survived by planning, by waiting, by enduring.
Later that night, Annie lay awake listening to the creak of the floorboards, the slam of doors, the turn of the lock, and the muffled sobs Leigh tried to hide.Guilt gnawed at her.She should have intervened in her sister's life sooner, when Jason kept her from her family.Instead, she had let Leigh carry her burden alone while Annie took care of their mom after her stroke.
And now, it was too late.
Every night was spent in fear.
