Pain pressed against the underside of her flesh, and she looked up at the microwave clock.
Five past midnight.
Unease churned in her guts.
Dereck promised. He promised he’d be home by eleven. Told her not to worry. That he was keeping his nose clean. That he’d never make a mistake like that again.
Brinley tried to steady herself. To find the hope of this life. Something good in it.
But she wasn’t sure how that would happen when she thought the loneliness might swallow her.
The ache consumed.
She missed her mother so much.
Missed her belief. Her faith. Her praise and her hugs and the soft way in which she looked at her.
“I’m trying, Mom. I’m trying so hard, and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.”
Her phone vibrated on the imitation granite countertop beside her.
Dereck.
Freaking finally.
Only her stomach dropped when she read what the text said.
Dereck
I’m in trouble. I need you to come and get me.
There was an address beneath it.
Sickness crawled through her like a dose of venom. She wavered, gaze rushing around the tiny kitchen like it might give her an answer. Take this away.
She quickly tapped across the screen.
Brinley
What’s going on?
Dereck
I’ll explain once you get here.
God, why did he continually do this to her?
“Mom, please help me.”
She waffled, then pushed from the stool and stomped to the door where she grabbed her purse and keys, then hurried down the steps to the parking lot below.
Her mother’s old car chugged and moaned before it finally sputtered to life.
She threw it into reverse and blew out of the lot, following the directions on her phone, winding her way into the scummiest part of town.
It wasn’t like they were living at the Ritz, but there was something about the darkened house that sent chills crawling through her being as she came to idle at the curb.
Dread twisted her stomach.
