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PROLOGUE

Exact Time Unknown

When the stairs leading down to the baseled to her feet She pressed one hand to her very pregnant belly and gripped a metal pipe with the other as she listened to the steady, purposeful steps approaching the locked door Keys rattled as mumbled curses echoed on the other side She’d lost track of howfor him to return

She took a step back, and her fingers tightened around the weapon, once a part of her cot’s fra her bed together She’d used her fingernails and a s her nails in the process of loosening the screws Last night the final screw and theShe’d wept, clutching her new best friend to her chest as she rocked back and forth Months in this less box could come to an end today, if she was very careful

The first lock turned More keys rattled

He had visited her every few days for azines, prenatal vitaer clothes as her belly had expanded He rarely spoke to her, occasionally asking how the baby was faring Did it kick? Did it nant before, so she had no way of knohat normal was or wasn’t

A dead bolt turned, and the door swung open He stood in the doorway, two bags of groceries in his hands He vacantly gazed toward her and then to the small table by the kitchenette

She s the metal so hard her knuckles ached She had this one chance One chance

“Why are you standing?” he asked as he duroceries on the table “You should have your feet up It’s a matter of days before the baby comes”

“My belly has been cra Feels better to stand” That was true The un to contract and release At first she thought it was the baby curling into a ball and then stretching out But she then realized ti out

“Is the baby kicking?” he asked

“All the time” Also true In the early weeks of her captivity, all she’d wanted to do was sleep and block out the baby and this room Every kick to her bladder, craestion reminded her she’d been such a dumbass And sometimes, when the loneliness overcame her, she wasn’t sure if the kid was on her side or not

“I brought you a few azines” He sounded proud, pleased with himself “They’re the current issues this time”

He carefully laid them on the small table in her roolossy covers and summoned a smile He expected her to be pleased by this rare act of kindness So she bea him to believe she was docile and weak even as her azine headlines skittered across her brain, barely registering “Summer Beach Reads” “Hot Makeup Colors” “Short Shorts” “A Glimpse into Fall Fashion”

If anything, the iven way to summer “What day is it?” she asked

He set the two plastic grocery bags beside the sink “It’s Friday or maybe Saturday No more than teeks until the baby is born”

The last time she’d seen the date displayed had been June 1, weeks after he’d locked her in this room The paper had contained an article about her In that piece she’d read the quote from

her mother: “We don’t think she’s a runaway”

Think Even her mother doubted that she’d been taken

He’d left the paper with her, knowing it would fuel her doubts and fears that the search for her indling

After that article, she’d known there would be no savior No one was co to be rescued, she would have to save herself

“And then you’ll let ht?” she asked

“I told you I would” He carefully unpacked apples, bananas, bread, and packets of noodles There were also eggs,for a healthy baby And if she wanted to heat up her food or cook the eggs, there was only the lass Just paper plates and cups No pens or pencils Nothing dangerous

“Toocareless,” he said

But she had already done the stupidest thing in her life She’d believed his beautiful lies that had promised rescue from a nasty breakup and parents who did not want her or her baby He’d baited this unholy trap with sht into it Now she and her baby would pay a steep price if she didn’tcount

“I also brought you irl You’re straining at the edges of that extra-large T-shirt”

She uard just a little “Baby’s going to be a big one”

“Healthy and strong, just like the Lord intended You’ll thank me when it’s born”

Thank hirateful for what you’ve done for me But each time my baby kicks, I say a prayer of thanks,” she lied

“That’s good Real good Feisty is a good quality in a child”

Looking satisfied, he turned and opened the tiny refrigerator and began placing perishables inside First the milk

She drew in a breath and gripped the pipe even tighter, picturing it striking the back of his head

As he rus and cheese, she took a step forward He chatted about her needing to eata sound as she lunged, focused solely on connecting metal to bone She had one chance and couldn’t bear to think ould happen if she failed

Right before the pipe slalanced up, and his sht and raised his arm, and the pipe connected with his forearm

He grunted in pain and snarled “Bitch!”

Driven by pure panic now, she tried to raise the pipe again, but before she could, his left fist connected with her jaw, sending shock waves of pain through her head She staggered, dropped to her knees Her grip slackened upon the pipe, and it fell to the floor with a loud clang It slowly rolled out of reach as her vision blurred

His breathing was hot and quick as he picked up the pipe and, grabbing her by the hair, hauled her up to her feet She could feel her hair tearing away from her skull as the pain in her jaw throbbed She tasted blood, and her tongue skiuarded her abdomen

He raised the pipe, ready to strike “I always thought you were just too kind and sweet But you weren’t nice at all You were angling to get uard But I’ve been around this particular block before I knoomen like you lie”

“I’ain!” she screamed

He pulled her bloodied face next to his “If it were up topiss out of you I’d punch every tooth down your throat” He shoved her onto theher hoell he could inflict pain while safeguarding the baby

“I won’t do it again I won’t!” she pleaded, her tre her face

“If you try that again, I will break your hands and feet Do you understand irl?”