In Her Shadow by August McLaughlin Read Free Book Online Page A

pictures? A desire to save her from...him? Does she actually believe she could? Whatever the reason, she can’t shake her will to live. No, not just live...
    A surprising calmness fills her as an idea fills her mind: a plan of escape, a mission all her own. Can she manage it? Is it worth trying? She has nothing more to lose...
    Touching her reflection, she makes a silent oath. She’ll give the plan her all, no matter what. No matter how hard it gets. The first step... It’s a hard one.
    She sits up, waits for the dizziness to pass, the spots to clear from her vision. You can do this, she prods. Slow and steady... Pushing her palms down on the mattress for stability, she swings her legs off the side of the bed until they touch the ground.
    Standing slowly, one hand braced on the mattress, she takes a slow breath, waits out a new wave of lightheadedness. Then she gathers her strength and walks to the top of the stairs. This is it—no turning back. She leans toward the locked door, places a chilled hand on the wooden surface.
    “Love? My love?” she calls out.
    The words feel toxic in her mouth. She hasn’t called him ‘Love’ since she realized that what he was doing to her was wrong.
    “Love…” She taps on the door and calls him again. She listens, hears footsteps, moving closer.
    “Darling?” His voice thrusts a rock in her gut. He’s right outside the door.
    “Yes, it’s me. Can you let me out, my love? I’m hungry. Perhaps I can cook us something like I used to.” She recites the carefully composed words.
    The long pause that follows fills her with dread. Is he considering her words? Is he angry?
    He unlocks the deadbolt, turns the knob slowly, opens the door partway. She holds her breath. If he’s cross he’ll punish her. If he’s not...
    Focus. Be brave.
    “Is it really you, darling?” He speaks through the open crack.
    “It really is. Please open the door. I miss you.”
    He opens it fully and looks in her eyes. Fear tingles in her pores, simmering water that wants to break into a boil. She fights to hide her anxiety.
    He squints, seemingly unsure whether he can trust her. He reaches out and pulls her up into the doorway, squeezing her so tightly she can barely breathe. Perhaps it’s good—she’d rather not inhale.
    “Too skinny,” he says, stepping back.
    Don’t let him see your fear. “ I’m all right…just a little hungry. Perhaps I’ve had the flu. But I’m better now, I promise. Why don’t I cook for you, like I used to? We’ll eat together.”
    Satisfaction fills his eyes. “Meatloaf?”
    “Yes!” She’s got him. “Meatloaf, your favorite. Potatoes, too.”
    He shoves her back inside, landing her on the top stair, breathless.
    “What are you doing, love?” She tries to sound calm.
    “We need supplies. Stay here and rest.”
    He closes the door, locks it.
    She pauses in the stairway, stunned—she actually did it. She even made it through the door, farther than she’d expected. Should she have darted away?
    She imagines rushing through the kitchen, out the door and into the sunshine. Or—the snow? Whatever the month or season, it isn’t time to run. Too risky, and she has many steps to go. Each one, though painful, marks another brick along the yellow brick road—her road to dreams and freedom.
    For the first time in months she nearly smiles. Her plan has officially begun .
     

Chapter Thirteen
     
    “What do you mean, he might have been following you?” Elle asks. “Was he or wasn’t he?”
    Claire walks Zola around Calhoun Park as they chat over the phone, keeping an eye out for Hank. He’d sent her a text during his night shift, inviting her to a breakfast picnic.
    “Well, I didn’t actually get a good look at him. But I heard footsteps.” She shivers at the memory. “You know how you can just feel when someone’s looking at you? I felt it... Then, when I turned to look at the car behind me, the headlights flicked off and the driver got out. And I think