Prologue - The Broken Road

Four months earlier…

My eyes met Tom’s as he stomped the snow off his boots. Soft white flecks scattered across the rug by the door. “What have I told you about the phone?”

I swallowed nervously. “I have to go, mom. I promise we’ll come visit soon.” My hand shook as I hung up the phone. I braced myself for the storm, then turned to face Tom. “I was only on the phone for fifteen minutes. I was talking to my mom. She’s worried because she hasn’t seen us in so long.”

Tom’s voice was laced with ice. “Don’t lie to me, Kri. I’ve been watching you through the window. You were on the phone twenty minutes ago when I first pulled up to the house.” He closed the distance between us, scattering snow across the hardwood floor. His head cocked to one side as a vein pulsed in his neck. “Were you talking about me?”

My heart sped as I began to back up. “No, Tom. I swear. We didn’t talk about you.”

His eyes narrowed. Then he sent me hurtling against the wall as he backhanded me. Spit flew across my face as he screamed. “Liar!”

I glanced nervously at Cade as he whimpered from the couch. He jumped down to meet me at the wall. A low growl hummed through his tiny chest as he faced Tom. I slid to the floor and reached for him. “Shhhh. It’s okay, boy.”

“I’m going to kill that fucking dog,” Tom hissed as he reached for the cordless phone.

I ducked as the phone shattered next to my head. My heart stumbled against my chest as my eyes flitted to the keys hanging next to the door. Tom was pacing on the other side of the room, contemplating his next move. “Stupid fucking bitch,” he muttered as he raked his hand through his jet black hair. “Just had to have a dog. Couldn’t live without that stupid fucking dog.”

I could see his temper spiraling in front of me as if it had a life of its own. I had lived this moment a million times before. If I was lucky, he’d demand I go upstairs so he could take his frustration out on me in bed. If I wasn’t… then I was going to get hit a few more times before he dragged me up to bed. Either way, I’d end up in bed wishing I was dead. I eyed the keys again, then counted the steps to the door.

I glanced nervously at Tom. I had been biding my time, paying off bills, untangling our finances, and stashing money aside. I had finally confided in someone, and she and her husband had offered to take me in. I finally had a place I could go… a place where he couldn’t hurt me. My jeep was parked right outside the door. I could make a run for it… or I could die trying.

I touched my cheek to see if there was any blood. My head spun. Did I have the strength to see this through? I had attempted to leave once before; and Tom had threatened to kill me if I ever tried again. We lived in the middle of town, then. But, now? We lived smack in the middle of the mountains where no one could hear me scream. A tear slid down my face as I pulled Cade to my chest. I was so sick of fighting, sick of walking on eggshells, and mortified by the dark turn my prayers had taken. I wondered when things had gotten so bad that I started praying he would die.

Tom ripped me from my thoughts as he threatened me from across the room. “I am sick and tired of you not listening to me. I’m going to show you who runs this house, Kri. Get your ass upstairs, now!”

I scrambled to my feet with Cade still clutched in my arms. I watched as Tom kicked his boots across the floor and turned to walk up the stairs. I breathed a silent prayer, then ran for the door.