Stay focused. Think about them later.
He sniffed, and his grasp on my head constricted tighter. Closing my eyes against the pain, I bit down on my lip.
“Then they wouldn’t let me see you, even though you’re mine. You’re mine, and they tried to keep you from me. It’s okay though, I paid someone at the hospital to tell me where you were. I followed you to that house. Where the boy and woman took care of you. Trey and Chelsea, right?”
His tone was airy as he stepped forward. He pressed my back into the door of the Jeep, pinning me against the surface of the vehicle. “I waited for you. I waited and waited for you. I watched you sneak out at night when you lived there. I would follow you on those long walks you would take, you know? I was always there, watching out for my girl.”
Pushing into me, Richard’s forehead fell against mine, nailing my head to the car door.
“I watched you. I had to, because you’re mine. Then I followed you to college. I visited you every day at work, every day, but you didn’t recognize me,” he grounded outthe last part, his hands fisting my hair and pushing me against the vehicle. Hard enough to tear a whimper from my throat. “How could you not remember me? You’re mine, and you didn’t remember me.”
“I’m sorry,” I gasped out. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh shh, sweet girl, don’t cry, I’m here,” he sputtered out, his hands detangling themselves from my hair and his fingers combed through soothingly. “I’ve got you.”
Hold your breath, stay still, don’t move.
“It’s okay now because we found each other, and we can go home.”
Survival was my only thought as I remained motionless in the hands of this monster and my body knew how to survive. It was the same routine, the same ritual my limbs and heart had performed through the years to keep me safe.
His hands cupped my face, making me look him in the eyes as he brushed at the hair sticking to my sweat-damp forehead.
“You look so much like her,” he said as his thumb stroked my jaw. “My Stephanie.” He kissed my cheek as he whispered, “Let’s go home.”
Hold still, keep quiet, obey.
There were no other thoughts, no other choices.
I nodded.
Richard, holding my hand, led me to a secluded, dark corner of the parking lot, where a black vehicle lay in wait. I let him pull me into that dark corner. I knew what happened in dark corners. I knew the dangers that stalked the shadows, but I didn’t rebel against his lead.
As we approached the vehicle, he reached for another set of car keys from his pocket. His fingers fumbled with the clanking metal.
Coughing, I choked on my tears. I was going to die. Richard was going to get behind the wheel and I was going to die.
Finally, was the thought of a misplaced piece of methat came crawling from my subconscious.About time,was the bitter whisper of a forgotten girl who’d been beaten and abandoned.
No one will care once I’m gone. No one will remember.
I violently shook my head against the thoughts I once welcomed and fed. That’s when I saw red. Looking up, I could see Penny. She stood beneath a lone streetlight, face stricken, body still.
See, my heart screamed out to the ugly, festering words of my old, lonely soul;I’m not alone.I won’t be forgotten.
I turned to Richard. He was still jumbling with the keys, groaning as he tried to unlock the car. I was going to die if I obeyed, if I went with him. Then my eyes fell back on Penny. I may not survive this night if I go with him, but if he saw Penny and got his hands on her… I would wish I were dead.
Because Penny Howell was my family.
She took a step forward.
I shook my head adamantly, mouthing, “Don’t move.”
I was so scared she couldn’t see my silent warnings in the dark, but to my utter relief, she nodded and stayed put. I decided then. I knew what I had to do. To be done with this, this night, this man. I knew what I needed to do.
I needed to speak. For my family, I needed to speak.
“Richard,” I squeezed out. I didn’t think he heard me until his bloodshot, dark eyes rolled over to me. “I—I can drive.”
