“Come on.”
He takes me by the hand and drags me toward his room, with the kids following behind me.
“Get in bed,” he says as he grabs his phone off his nightstand.
Wordlessly, Emily does as he asks and, reluctantly, Tanner follows his sister. As he walks toward the door, I chase after him.
“Mac, please just stay inside. We can call the cops,” I tell him weakly.
Mac offers me a soft smile and kisses my lips. “I’ll only be gone for a couple of minutes. I expect you to be in my bed when I get back, okay?”
Before I can say anything, he slips outside, into the dark of night.
God damn him.
Taking a deep breath, I wipe away my tears as I look around his kitchen. I can do this. I need to protect my kids.
I move to the counter next to the stove and grab the biggest knife out of his knife block and head back down the hall.
I hope I won’t have to use this, but I will. No one will hurt my babies. Not ever again.
“Mommy, where’s Mac?” Emily asks with fear in her voice.
“He just went to check things out. He will be right back,” I tell her as I shut and lock his bedroom door.
“I’m scared,” Tanner confesses.
I set the knife on the nightstand and crawl into bed next to my kids. Instantly, they lean into me, all of us needing what little comfort we can get.
“Me too, baby. Me too.”
All too soon, I pull away from my babies.
“I need you to do me a favor,” I tell them.
“What?” Tanner asks.
“I need you guys to hide in the closet.”
Understanding fills Tanner’s eyes, and he nods.
“Come on, Em.” He takes her hand and drags her out of bed.
I watch as they quietly slip into Mac’s closet and shut the door.
Now, if I have to use this knife, the kids won’t see me do it. They’re safe.
Hopefully, Mac is too.
For the first time in years, I close my eyes and pray.
Please, God, let Mac be okay. Please don’t take one of the only good things in my life from me. Not now.
As I slip outside, I unlock my phone and send out a quick text.
Me: 9-1-1. Jane’s place.
I darken the screen and go to put my phone in my pocket.
