Chapter 1 - DON’T LET HER TAKE ME
Sawyer Bennett knew something was wrong before he got the front door fully open.
The house was too quiet.
No television.
No music from the upstairs bedroom.
No Gracie racing down the hallway shouting, “Dad!”
He had been gone for four days on a construction-management conference in Denver. His flight landed two hours early, and he had decided not to tell Carolina because he wanted to surprise Gracie before bedtime.
The suitcase was still in his hand when he heard bare feet running.
“Dad!”
Eight-year-old Gracie appeared at the end of the hallway.
Sawyer smiled automatically.
Then the smile vanished.
She was crying.
Not little-child crying.
Not scraped-knee crying.
She was shaking so hard her stuffed rabbit bounced against her chest.
“Gracie?”
She ran into him.
Her arms wrapped around his waist.
Then her knees gave out.
Sawyer dropped the suitcase.
“Whoa—baby.”
He caught her.
“Dad…”
“What happened?”
“My back hurts.”
His hands stopped.
“What?”
She buried her face against him.
“Mom said I couldn’t tell you.”
Sawyer went cold.
He knelt.
“Look at me.”
Gracie refused.
“Sweetheart.”
Slowly, she lifted her face.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
Her brown hair was tangled.
She wore yesterday’s sweatshirt.
Sawyer knew because Gracie had sent him a photo wearing it the previous morning.
“Where does it hurt?”
“My back.”
“Did you fall?”
Gracie’s breathing quickened.
“Can I look?”
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
Sawyer carefully lifted the back of her sweatshirt.
His stomach dropped.
Dark bruising spread across the lower side of her back.
Not one small mark.
Several.
Different shapes.
Sawyer’s hands began shaking.
“Who did this?”
Gracie squeezed the stuffed rabbit against her chest.
“Gracie.”
Her lips trembled.
“Mom pushed me.”
For one second Sawyer heard nothing.
Not the heater.
Not traffic outside.
Not his own breathing.
“Your mother pushed you?”
Gracie nodded.
“Where?”
“Stairs.”
Sawyer closed his eyes.
Then a bedroom door slammed.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Carolina came into the hallway wearing black leggings and a gray sweater.
Her face changed when she saw Sawyer.
“You’re home.”
Sawyer stood.
“What happened to Gracie?”
Carolina’s eyes moved to the raised sweatshirt.
Then to Gracie.
“Nothing.”
Gracie immediately backed into Sawyer.
Carolina stepped forward.
“I told you to stop making things up.”
Gracie began shaking harder.
Sawyer moved between them.
“Do not come closer.”
Carolina laughed nervously.
“Oh, please.”
“Did you push her?”
“She slipped.”
Gracie cried:
“No!”
Carolina’s face hardened.
“Stop lying!”
She grabbed Gracie’s arm.
Gracie screamed.
“DADDY!”
Sawyer moved instantly.
He pulled Carolina’s hand away.
Gracie lunged behind him.
“DON’T LET HER TAKE ME!”
Sawyer’s restraint disappeared.
“DON’T EVER TOUCH HER AGAIN!”
Carolina recoiled.
“You have no idea what she’s been doing all week.”
“She is eight.”
“She lies!”
“She is injured.”
“She fell!”
“Then why did she say you pushed her?”
“Because she’s angry at me!”
Gracie sobbed behind him.
Sawyer could feel her fingers gripping the back of his shirt.
Carolina pointed toward the front door.
“If you believe her over me, leave.”
Sawyer stared.
“Excuse me?”
“LEAVE.”
Her voice rose.
“And never come back.”
Something in Sawyer became strangely calm.
“Fine.”
Carolina blinked.
He turned.
Gracie looked up.
“We’re leaving.”
Relief crossed her face.
Sawyer lifted her into his arms.
She cried against his shoulder.
His suitcase remained beside the doorway.
He didn’t care.
He pulled his car keys from his pocket.
Carolina suddenly stepped in front of the front door.
Sawyer stopped.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Carolina.”
“You’re not taking her anywhere.”
Gracie saw her mother blocking the door.
Her entire body changed.
“No…”
Sawyer tightened his hold.
“Gracie?”
“No!”
She began screaming.
“NO! NO! DADDY, PLEASE!”
She wrapped both arms around Sawyer’s neck.
“Don’t let her take me!”
Sawyer stared at his wife.
“What have you done to her?”
Carolina’s face had gone pale.
“I said put her down.”
“Move.”
“She is my daughter too.”
“And right now she is terrified of you.”
Carolina reached toward them.
Sawyer stepped back.
“Try touching her again.”
His voice was low now.
Almost worse than shouting.
“See what happens.”
Carolina stopped.
Gracie buried her face against his chest.
Her stuffed rabbit was crushed between them.
Sawyer felt something hard press against his ribs.
Not the toy’s plastic eye.
Not stuffing.
Something rectangular.
Hidden inside the rabbit.
Gracie felt him notice.
Her head lifted.
Her eyes became terrified.
She whispered:
“Dad…”
Sawyer looked down.
Gracie squeezed the rabbit tighter.
May you like
“Don’t let Mom take Bunny.”
And Carolina’s face changed.
