Vomit rose in my throat. If my father got his hands on Darren, Darren wouldn’t be alive long.

I rushed from the bed and dashed into the bathroom, dropping to my knees in front of the toilet. I threw up, clutching the toilet bowl. Emmaline tried to rub my back, but I smacked her hands away, freaking out.

I didn’t want her to touch me.

A flashback swirled in my mind, dragging me out of the present. The last thing I heard was Emmaline’s panicked voice yelling my name.

I fought hard as Dad put that chain around my neck, and I wasn’t making it easy for him.

I wasn’t...