Chapter 1 - THE HALLWAY
Emiliano’s scream changed Lucy before she understood why.
One second she was folding laundry on the couch.
The next, Adrian’s hand came down and struck the one-year-old boy across the side of his body.
Not hard enough to send him flying.
Hard enough to make him scream.
“Mama!”
Lucy spun around.
“STOP!”
She rushed forward, snatched Emiliano into her arms, and turned her body around him.
Adrian’s face was already twisted with rage.
“Give him back.”
“No.”
He slapped Lucy across the face.
The room flashed white for one second.
She stumbled.
Emiliano cried harder.
Adrian reached again.
“GIVE HIM BACK!”
Lucy tightened both arms around the baby.
“NO!”
He grabbed her forearm.
She ripped free.
Then ran.
Front door.
Hallway.
Bare feet sliding against old apartment carpet.
“HELP!”
Adrian charged after her.
Lucy pounded on the door across the hall.
“Carmen!”
The door opened.
Carmen Alvarez stood there in a gray cardigan, one hand gripping a cane.
Seventy-two.
Small.
Unimpressed by large men.
Lucy rushed toward her.
“PLEASE!”
Adrian caught Lucy from behind.
Spun her around.
Slapped her again.
Lucy cried out and hunched over Emiliano.
Adrian raised his hand.
“COME HOME!”
“NO!”
He swung.
The cane hit his forearm before his hand reached Lucy.
Sharp.
Fast.
Carmen stepped between them.
“ENOUGH.”
Adrian froze.
His eyes dropped to the cane.
Then to Carmen.
Then to Lucy hiding behind her with the baby.
“You don’t know what she’s done,” he said.
Carmen answered:
“I know what I just saw.”
Adrian’s face changed.
Not shame.
Calculation.
Then he looked toward his apartment door.
Still open.
Carmen noticed.
So did Lucy.
Adrian took one step backward.
“I’m calling the police.”
Lucy expected him to threaten them.
Instead he said:
“Good.”
Then:
“Tell them to ask her where the money went.”
Lucy stared.
“What money?”
May you like
Adrian smiled.
That was when she realized the violence was not the only thing waiting inside their apartment.
