Page 56

Thirteen years ago

Noelle parked her little sports car next to Lucia’s minivan, pleasantly surprised to see that her sister had stopped by. She gathered her purse and admired the new bracelets that jangled on her wrist as she closed the car door.

Lucia would love these.

As she went up the stairs to the front door, she decided to give the bracelets to her sister. She paused at the front door, and her shoulders abruptly tightened as she heard Derrick shouting.

What did I do now?

A woman shrieked. “ Stop it! ”

Is that Lucia?

Noelle thrust open the door and strode into the home.

“You almost ruined me with your fucking loose mouth!”

Her strides slowed. That’s Adam.

She entered the kitchen and froze. Lucia was yanking on Adam’s arm, tears streaming down her face as he swung a crowbar at Derrick, who darted out of reach to avoid the crowbar smashing into his face.

Adam fought to keep his balance as Lucia pulled him backward, and Derrick lunged at him, his fists swinging.

“ Derrick! ” screamed Lucia. “ Don’t! ”

Derrick awkwardly landed a fist on Adam’s shoulder and then tripped, falling to his hands and knees. Derrick gasped for air as he struggled back to his feet. He paused, swaying as if dizzy.

Is he hurt?

Noelle darted forward and grabbed his upper arm to steady him. “Are you okay?” She turned him toward her. He was covered in sweat, his eyes wide and frantic. He blinked several times as he fought to focus on her face.

“ You! ” he bellowed at her, his cheeks instantly red with fury. “You did this!” Spittle flew from his mouth, his pupils huge.

Frozen, she stared at him.

What’s wrong with him?

“Derrick—”

“Shut up!” His gaze focused on hers with a laser intensity and she stepped back, her heart trying to beat out of her chest.

He’s going to hit me.

A split second later his hand shot out to slap her in the face.

Noelle stutter-stepped back, avoiding his blow, but lost her balance and hit the ground, which sent pain rocketing up her tailbone and spine.

She scrambled backward, her sandals sliding on the wood floor as he came after her again.

Her back hit the sofa, and she clambered to her feet, intending to run.

But he grabbed her upper arms and shook her, causing her head to whip forward and back as if she were in a car crash. “ Derrick! ”

What did I do?

She threw her body to one side, breaking his grip and landing on her knees.

She clambered across the floor, the understanding that he wanted to physically hurt her ricocheting in her skull.

He grabbed her hair and yanked. She flung her arms outward, futilely searching for something—anything—to hold on to.

Instead, she fell over and landed on her side.

He towered over her. He shouted, but her brain didn’t register his words. Only his fury.

She faintly discerned that Lucia and Adam had left the room.

It was only her and Derrick.

He will kill me if I don’t get away!

She’d known this day could come.

Noelle grabbed both his lower legs, closed her eyes, and thrust her body forward with her feet, pushing her shoulder into his shins. He landed heavily with a shout and kicked, breaking her hold. She crawled away and pulled herself to her feet, leaning heavily on a sofa arm, panting.

Get out of the house!

She took a step, and he slammed a fist into her shoulder, nearly knocking her into the marble stand holding her favorite elephant. She snatched the elephant, digging her fingertips into its iron grooves, and swung around, using her momentum to slam the elephant into his face.

Derrick fell to one side, dropping to the floor as if every muscle in his body had stopped working, blood flowing from the wounds in his face.

Noelle stood over him, panting, clinging to the elephant.

Oh my God! What did I do?

She flung the elephant aside, and it hit the wood floor with a crash. She backed away from Derrick, her gaze locked on his smashed face. He didn’t move, the room suddenly silent. But blood roared in her brain.

He was going to kill me!

Something caught her eye, and she looked across the room at the huge mirror on the wall.

Adam stood behind her. His crowbar raised.