Chapter 1

“It is now or never”

Panic clawed at my chest as I yanked open my dresser drawers, scattering clothes across the floor like falling leaves. My hands shook uncontrollably as I shoved shirts, jeans, and underwear into my large duffel bag, not caring which items landed where. My heart thumped violently, like a caged animal desperate to escape, and I was sure it might burst through my ribs at any moment. My thoughts were a chaotic storm, flitting between the horrifying “what ifs” that could unravel everything if I didn’t move fast.

I didn’t stop to think about what I was packing. I didn’t need to. Any clothes would do. Any semblance of preparation was enough. All that mattered was that I had a plan, a fragile, dangerous plan and that I was moving before it was too late. My life had become unrecognizable, twisted into a nightmare that no one could have imagined.

I was trapped in a relationship with a man whose heart was ice, in a house that should have been condemned years ago. Every day was a fresh layer of torment, and I had reached my breaking point. I couldn’t stay here. I wouldn’t. Prison sounded like freedom compared to this.

For a second, my reflection in the mirror caught my eye. A cut across my cheek had already scabbed, thin and ugly. I stared at it like it belonged to someone else. Maybe it did. Maybe she could stay here, and I could drive away as someone new.

Just as I was lost in my own thoughts, I heard the sound l dreaded most as Alex's rumbling truck pipes echoed through the thin walls and the blood in my body ran cold. He wasn't supposed to be home yet. He wasn't even supposed to be in town.

I froze looking at the half full duffel bag in my hands as l tried to think of what i was going to say. How was I going to explain myself. It isn't going to look good when he walks in and sees me with a duffel bag full of clothes in my hands and a startled look on my face. I will never lie to him, he always knew what I was thinking even before l knew what I was thinking. And that always made it impossible to get away from him.

Until now.

The front door flew open and slammed shut with a bang. I jumped instantly, listening to Alex's heavy boot steps coming closer and closer. The pounding of his boots matched the racing of my heart thumping against my chest. "Karen, where the fuck are you?", His voice was filled up with venom and l felt my eyes swim with tears. I quickly blinked them back not wanting to see me this way.

I didn't know what kind of mood he would be in as l never did and waited for him to come into the bedroom where l stood stiff as a board, still debating on what to say. He was going to be beyond angry and l knew he would lose his shit if knew what I was really up to. Then here, he was standing in the doorway.

His demeanor was filled with anger as he glared at me. Alex was the kind of guy that girls looked at and drooled over while he grinned at them. He was beyond sexy in a bad boy kind of way. His dirty blonde hair sat messed up on the top of perfect face with a sculpted jaw and mesmerizing green eyes.

Tattoos lined his hands, courtesy of my work which only made him more good looking. But as l stood and stared at him right mow, l knew who he was underneath, all those handsome features were useless. He was the most ugliest person on the planet.

I was shaking and still stood frozen, unsure of what to do or say. My throat was dry and I wasn't sure if I could speak.

"I was.... cleaning out my drawers", I lied before he could ask me, hoping that he could just drop the questions and tell me why he was home early. "You home early", I added softly lifting my eyebrow at him. His eyes clouded over and he stepped into the room. "That's none of your business", He stared down at the bag and anger fueled in his body.

"What is this Karen?",

"I... I was just cleaning up some old clothes for Reena, she got kicked out last night and doesn't have anything so.... so I was just going to give her some of my old clothes", My heart was pounding hard in my chest that l swore he could hear it. When he looked down, my eyes looked heavenward and prayed to whoever might be listening to get me out of this.

Alex sized me up before he stepped forward and grabbed my duffel bag. He then tossed it on the bed behind me. He stood so close that I could feel his breathing on my neck, sending a .wave of shivers through my entire body. "I paid for those fucking clothes, so you ain't going to give them to that crack -head. She can walk around naked for all l care", He grabbed my chin then forced me to look at him.

"I'm expecting someone to stop by in a little while who owes me some money. I need you to stick around until he gets here, got it?",

I nodded not looking into his eyes even though he was forcing my chin towards him. "Are you leaving again", I asked in a low voice. His grip on my chin tightened up and I flinched.

He stared into my eyes not saying a word for the longest time before he kissed my lips forcibly, making me want to gag. "I have some business to take care of", He finally released my chin and walked into the closet where he pulled a shoebox down from the top shelf and turned his back so that l couldn't see what he was doing.

"The guy will be here soon. Just take the money , kick him out and wait for me to return. Am I clear?", He shoved the box up onto it's shelf and turned to me with a questioning glare.

"I got it. A guy is coming over. Take the money. Kick him out", I said with a forced smile on my face.

“Good girl”, He turned on his heel and left the room. Emotions filled my throat the moment, he closed the door behind his back. I was seconds away from sobbing like a little child. I wished I had never met Alex Michaels those five long years ago when my life changed forever.

I heard his truck start back up and a moment later he was driving away. Knowing that he had left, i grabbed my duffel bag and finished shoving my clothes into it before I zipped it up and tossed it into the bed. I spun and stared into the closet at the shoebox. Alex would kill me if he knew what I was about to do but he couldn’t find me, he couldn’t hurt me.

And after everything he has done to me, I think he deserved what I was about to take. I slowly made my way to the closet, grabbed the shoebox and opened the lid. I stared down at several wads of cash wrapped up in rubber bands and grabbed a few bundles for myself. I shoved them in my back pockets.

Looking at all this cash in the box made me sick to my stomach. He had made me do less than honorable actions recently because we were desperate for money, desperate to keep this decrepit roof over our heads. I did all those horrible things all the while Alex had this cash all along.

Alex Michaels was dead to me.

I considered this back pay for the life he stole from me, for what he’s made me do.

After putting the box back on the shelf, I went back to the grab my duffel bag and ran from the room across the living room and out of the back door.

The hallway was dark. My shoes made almost no sound on the tiles. I didn’t breathe until I was outside, the cool night air hitting my face like water.

I started the car. My fingers trembled so hard I almost dropped the keys. For a moment, I imagined him bursting through the doorway, yelling my name, promising he’d change. The scene felt so real I checked the rear-view mirror before shifting into drive. No one. Just empty asphalt and a flickering streetlight.

The tires rolled forward and I didn’t look back. The city thinned out fast, streetlights giving way to the open road. The hum of the engine steadied me, a rhythm to hold on to. But my chest still ached with something between fear and disbelief. Was I actually doing it? Escaping him? Every sign I passed felt like proof that I still could. Yet beneath it, a voice whispered that he’d find me anyway. He always did.

I kept driving. The highway stretched into blackness. Headlights from oncoming cars flashed over my hands on the wheel, painting quick ghosts across the dashboard. I thought about calling someone, anyone but I’d cut off everyone months ago. He’d made sure of that. So I just drove, mile after mile, until the city glow vanished behind me.

I only had one person to run to, Nathan my cousin brother.