Chapter 1 - THE NURSERY DOOR
The scream hit Lucas Mercer before he even touched the nursery door.
“You will answer for this!”
He shoved the door open.
For one second, his body forgot how to move.
His mother, Evelyn, had both hands tangled in Hannah’s hair. Hannah was on her knees beside the oak crib, dazed and crying, trying to shield her head while six-week-old Sophie screamed beneath a star-patterned quilt.
“Mom!” Lucas roared.
Evelyn jerked Hannah again.
Something in him broke.
Lucas crossed the room in two strides, tore Evelyn away, and shoved her backward. She stumbled into the heavy wardrobe with a hard thud. Hannah collapsed against the carpet.
Lucas planted himself between his mother and the crib.
“Stay away from my wife.”
Evelyn stared at him as if he had slapped her.
“She was going to hurt the baby.”
“What?”
“She’s unstable, Lucas. Look at her.”
Hannah lifted her face. A red mark ran along her temple. Her breathing came in short, terrified bursts.
“She’s lying,” Hannah whispered.
Evelyn pointed at her. “See? She hasn’t slept. She cries all day. I came in and found her standing over Sophie saying she couldn’t take it anymore.”
Lucas looked at Hannah.
Her expression changed.
Not anger.
Fear.
“Lucas,” she said, “call the police.”
Evelyn laughed once. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Call them.” Hannah’s voice cracked. “And don’t let her touch my phone.”
Lucas pulled out his cell.
Evelyn’s face lost color.
“Think carefully,” she said. “Once strangers come into this house, you don’t control what happens next.”
Lucas dialed 911 anyway.
As the dispatcher answered, Hannah crawled toward the crib and reached through the rails until Sophie wrapped one tiny hand around her finger.
Then Hannah looked up at Lucas.
“This isn’t the first time she’s hurt me.”
Lucas stopped breathing.
May you like
Hannah swallowed.
“And tonight she said she already has everything she needs to take Sophie away from us.”
