Chapter 5 - Cat and Mouse
I heard the heavy thud of the front door closing.
My blood turned to ice. David wasn't supposed to be home. I shoved the floorboard back into place, grabbed the duffel bag, and sprinted silently up the basement stairs.
"Rachel?" His voice echoed through the house, dangerously calm. "Are you down there?"
"Just doing laundry!" I called out, forcing my voice to sound annoyed rather than terrified. I stepped into the kitchen, tossing a pair of Leo's pajamas into the bag.
David stood in the hallway. He looked at me, then at the dirt smudged on my knees from the basement floor. His eyes narrowed.
"The hospital called," he said softly, taking a step toward me. "They said Leo is breathing on his own. They might discharge him tomorrow."
"That’s wonderful," I lied, my heart hammering against my ribs.
He closed the distance between us, his large hand reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch made my skin crawl. "We need to be a family, Rachel. No more business trips. No more leaving me alone with him. I can’t protect him when you’re not here."
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It was a threat, thinly veiled as a promise. "I understand," I whispered.
He smiled, that same horrifying smirk from the hallway. "Good. Now, why don't you let me take that bag? You look so heavy-laden." He reached for the duffel containing all his secrets.
