Page 205 of Always Love You More

“What the fuck are you—”

Cathleen’s words are cut off as I slam my bedroom door closed behind me and lock it. Heavy fists immediately come down against it.

I scan my room frantically, my heart pounding.

“Open this fucking door!” Carson shouts. “I know you fucking took ’em!”

Panicked, I slide the dresser in front of the door, barricading it, and call Jameson.

“Hey,” he answers. “You at work?”

I told him earlier that Cathleen could drive me, but Jace woke up from his nap sick. I planned to ask Jameson for a ride after I finished making dinner, but then all hell broke loose.

“N-no,” I stutter. “Jamie … I need you …” My voice cracks as the door rattles, the knob twisting. “I need help. Carson, he’s … I’m in my room, but he’s at the door. I don’t know if he’s gonna—”

“Are you hurt?” he cuts in, his rage barely contained beneath the question.

I look down at my skinned knee. “I’m fine,” I tell him. “But I’ve never seen him like this before … I …” I trail off as Carson screams through the door. “I don’t know what he’s gonna do.”

“He’s not gonna do anything, okay? I’ll be there in five minutes. I’m not gonna let anything happen.”

“Okay,” I choke out.

“Who else is in the house?”

“My father’s passed out downstairs.”

“Cathleen and the baby?”

“Jace … he’s … he’s sick, so she was giving him a bath.” I swallow. “I don’t want him to go after them if he can’t get to me. What if he—”

“He won’t,” Jameson jumps in. “Stay in your room. I’ll be there soon.”

I tense as something slams against the door.

“Sam?”

“Yeah,” I push out.

I hear an engine roar to life as he says, “I’m gonna hang up now so I can get there quicker.”

“Okay.”

“It’s all gonna be fine.”

“Thank you,” I manage before the line goes dead.

In rapid succession, three kicks land against the door. “Goddammit, Samantha, open this fucking door. I’m done playing games.”

Jace’s crying is a constant background to the threats Carson is spewing. My instincts are screaming at me to go to him, to open the door and let Carson in, if only to calm Jace down. The fear that if I don’t give in to what he wants, he’ll only turn his anger on them. But I hold myself back, forcing myself to think clearly.

Jameson’s coming.

It’ll all be okay.

He’ll make this all okay.

I pace in front of the door, my eyes catching on the window.