Page 46 of Madness Behind the Mask
“I’m coming, baby,” I whisper as I struggle out the door. Leaning one shoulder against the wall, I stumble in the direction of the nursery.Exhaustion wants to pull me to the floor, but I place one foot in front of the next, listening to my baby’s cries.
I need to go to her. I need to comfort her. A door upahead is open a crack, and for a moment, disappointment hurts me at the thought thatAbby, the nanny, has already reached her, stepping into my role of mother as she’s done all these years.
But then that disappointment morphs into something worse as I realize that isn’t the nanny’s room. It’s theUnderboss’ – Caden’s right-hand man and the second in charge.
It’s Uncle David’s room.
My throat constricting, a flood of emotions suck me down into a whirlpool of panic. My legs move faster. My heart beats harder. I’m suddenly drowning in a pool of vomit that burns my throat. Uncle David loves me. He never hurt me. He gave me candy and told me I was a good, quick learner.
It isn’t wrong.
He.
Told.
Me.
It.
Isn’t.
Wrong!
But itfeelsso fucking wrong.
I don’t want him to touch her like he did me.
She’s only three months old!I scream inside my head as I imagine cradling her in my arms, keeping her safe from him.She doesn’t need to practice!
Horrid rasps leave me, as do bits off my shoulder that scrape across the wall due to how hard I’m pushing, how desperate I am to keep moving forward as fast as I can. I pass Uncle David’s room. My stomach drops with the last bit of hope that he might be in there. That he might have just accidentally left his door open as he fell into bed.
But his room is dark and empty, just like my lungs are now. Struggling to breathe, I move forward.I can’t be toolate. I can’t be –
Gasping, I trip over my feet and hit the ground hard. I crawl with achingfingertipsand exhausted limbs to the nursery, not stopping for a second to look at my own injuries.
Light comes from under the door I am desperate to get to, but the cries have now stopped. Utter silence under the rasps of my breaths and the pounding of my heart reigns. And I hate it more than the cries.
Has he finished with her?
Am I too late?
Or is he muffling her mouth with his hand?
With his…
A flash of Vance fucking mine hits me with the force of a hundred belts flaying intomy back. I cry out silently, my throat too constricted to manifest even the smallestofsounds. I dig my fingers intothe carpet. I haul my body forward.
Nails rip, leaving bloodacross the dark wood.
My limbs shaking, I reach another arm forward.
I can’t be too late.
I can’t be too late!
Dragging myself up the wall, I open the door.
Only to immediately crumble at the sight before me.
