Chapter 1: The Phone Beneath the Mattress
I Came Home From School And Saw Dad Gripping Mom's Hair Over The Kitchen Sink — Then When I Tried To Pull Her Free, He Sl@pped Me To The Floor.
"Ethan, stop!" Mom screamed.
Dad shoved her face closer to the running water.
"You should've kept your mouth shut, Sarah."
I wrapped both arms around his waist.
"Let go of my mommy!"
He turned and str*ck me across the cheek.
I dropped beside my backpack, too stunned to cry.
Mom pushed her way between us.
"Emily, run!"
Dad grabbed her hair again.
I raced upstairs and locked myself in my bedroom.
My hands were trembling as I found the old phone Mom had hidden beneath my mattress.
There was only one saved number.
Mom had made me memorize the name beside it.
CALL IF DAD HURTS US.
I pressed the button.
A man answered after one ring.
"Emily?"
I whispered, "He's doing it again."
His voice shifted immediately.
"Is your mother alive?"
"Yes, but Dad won't let her go."
"Stay in your room.
I'm coming."
Dad began pounding on my door.
"Who are you talking to?"
I shoved my desk against the handle.
Downstairs, Mom screamed my name.
Dad kicked the door until the frame cracked.
Then he heard the man's voice through the phone.
"Ryan, step away from that door."
Dad suddenly went still.
All the anger drained from his face.
"You told him where we live?" he whispered.
Red and blue lights flashed across my bedroom window.
May you like
Several black vehicles pulled up behind the police cars.
The man on the phone said, "Open the window, Emily — then your father will finally learn why your mother was placed in witness protection."
