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I don’t let him drag me back.
It’s my fault.
“Fuck,” he curses as he reaches out, but I dodge his hold.
Reaching the top of the stairs, I hold my hand out to stop him from coming further.
Rob can’t see him.
“Let me try,” I whisper.
Something crashes to the floor downstairs, but I hardly hear it.
There’s music playing from the bedroom.
Opening the door, my heart falls into my stomach. He stands with Hannah in his arms, a gun swinging from his hand at her back.
He’s doing this.
The door opening grabs his attention, and the color drains from his face.
He’s seeing a ghost.
I take his moment of shock as my opportunity.
Hannah’s tears soak his shoulder as he sings to her.
She’s tired too.
His tears fall into her hair.
An utterly broken monster.
“Claire, you were sleeping,” Hannah cries, trying to smile.
“Hey, Hannah Banana.”
“Don’t come in here,” Rob warns, turning so Hannah is no longer facing me.
I hold out my hands, keeping my feet in one spot, even when everything in my body is demanding I dive for her. With every breath, I’m aware of eyes on me from the stairs.
“Please don’t take her with you. She’s scared. She can come with me.”
A painful sob rips from his chest.
I step forward, and he doesn’t flinch.
Another slow step as I swallow the cough bubbling in my throat.
Resting my hand on his shoulder, my heart pounds painfully as I reach for the gun, but he retreats.
“I want to go with Claire, Daddy,” Hannah whispers, so exhausted her eyes are closing.
Dark eyes meet mine, and I hope he can read all the unspoken pleas.
Let me take her.
Sirens ring out in the distance, and I know I don’t have long. There’s heat at my feet, and there’ll be no way out soon. Jake will come storming in here any second.
