I crept down the stairs as quietly as I could, careful not to make my presence known. It was no use, though. When I reached the base of the staircase, he was standing with his arms crossed and something in his hand. My backpack and its contents were scattered across the floor like he’d been rummaging through it for something.
You’re a fucking, idiot, Sierra. You knew he was going to do something like this. Shame on you for thinking it was safe because you had nothing to hide, I thought as I kicked myself for leaving my bag on the couch.
“Hi?” I tried as hard as I could to keep a flat tone.
“What the fuck is this?” He waved the thing in his hand, and I realized it was a polaroid picture—one of me, Hayden, and Keenan during homecoming.
“Give it back!” I lunged for the photo, but he lifted it above his head.
“Answer the question. What the fuck is this?”
Frustration clawed at me, but I leveled out my voice. “It’s a photo.”
“No fucking shit, Sierra! Who are those boys? Is that who you’re whoring around with these days?” He brought the photo down so he could take a look at it.
“That’s none of your business,” I muttered.
He squinted, staring at the picture more intently. “That kid. He looks fucking familiar.” He flipped the photo around and pointed at Hayden. “Now that I think about it, they both do.”
Hold your tongue, Sierra. Don’t do anything stupid.
“Wait, no. I know what it fucking is,” he growled. “They’re the kids of those deputies who work for GCSO!What the hell are you doing hanging around them? I warned you, you little bitch. If you got me in trouble, there’d be hell to pay. Now answer the fucking question.”
My heart pounded in my chest.
“What. The. Hell. Are. You. Doing. Hanging. Around. Those. Boys.” He bared his teeth like a feral animal with every word, enunciating each syllable.
“Please give me the photo back.” My teeth ground as I extended my hand palm up.
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” he huffed, and then he ripped the photo right down the middle.
A cry tore itself from my throat, and I lunged at him against my better judgment, clawing at his arm to get the torn-up pieces.
He smacked me away, and I backed up a few feet, putting space between us.
“You’ve been hanging out with those sons ofpigs, and you just expect me to be okay with it? Who the fuck do you think you are? Other than a good for nothingslutjust like your mother.” He spat out the words as he stalked toward me with a murderous expression on his face.
My mom raced into the living room before he could get to me.
“Stop it! Don’t you dare fucking touch her!” Mom screamed at him, putting herself between us. “If you lay one hand on her, I’ll leave. I swear it this time, Spencer. I will fucking leave, and I will take her with me.”
“What the hell did you just say to me?” He spat in her face then reared back his fist. A sickening crunch pierced through the air as his knuckles made contact with Mom’s face. The momentum sent her flying backward into the wall, and her hands flew up to her nose, the blood already flowing through her fingers.
“Mom!” I cried out, reaching for her.
“Sierra, don’t!” she pleaded as my father stepped toward her.
“Stop!” My throat was already raw from screaming, from begging him to stop. “Please don’t! Don’t hurt her.”
“I’m so sorry,” Mom whispered.
All I could do was watch as he grabbed her throat, pinning her to the wall. His muscles rippled as he squeezed her neck, cutting off her air supply.
My feet were a thousand pounds, heavy chains wrapped around them to keep me in place.
Do something!
You can’t let him do this!
