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lips split and scabbed over. Seth had definitely done a number on him, but now he wasn’t there to protect her again. Her hands shook as she reached for the railing, ready to bolt. “Leave me alone,” she said, hoping the tremble in her voice wasn’t obvious.
    Before he could respond, she turned and ran up the stairs, not taking the chance of looking back. Tears welled in her eyes as she reached the landing. “Next time you won’t get so lucky, little girl. I’ll kill you for this, you little bitch!” His voice followed her up the stairs, mocking her as she reached her door and unlocked it.
    Out of breath and done with having to deal with the bullshit day in and day out , Monica slammed the door shut behind her, and pulled out her phone. With her fingers shaking, she texted the number Seth had given her.
    Can you come pick us up, please? I need to get out of here.
    She’d explain to Sarah and Jack what was going on later, but right now she was struggling with sanity as it was.
    His response came back almost immediately. Be there in fifteen , hang in there .
    “Sarah! Jack, come here please!” Monica shouted across the apartment on her way to the kitchen, grabbing garbage bags by the handful.
    The kids emerged from their bedrooms, their faces emanating concern. “What’s going on?”
    Monica bega n stuffing anything of personal value into the big plastic bag. “I don’t have time to explain, and I’m sorry. We’re leaving. Grab a bag and pack anything you want to take with you, that you can carry.”
    “Where the hell are we going, Monica? Please don’t tell me we’re going back to the shelter. I’ll get a job if it means keeping the apartment, just please don’t make us go back there,” Jack begged.
    Monica sighed and propped her hands on her hips. “We’re not going to a shelter.”
    Jack blew out a breath. “Well, thank God for that.”
    “Then where are we going?” Sarah asked warily. God, she felt like an asshole for putting them in this situation. Maybe if she hadn’t taken them from home…just maybe they would have been spared the torment at the hands of their stepfather, but it was a chance that Monica wasn’t willing to take.
    “We’re gonna stay with a friend for a while until I can make some money and save up for a better place. Please,” she pleaded, fisting her own hair in her hands. “Just go pack your clothes. Our ride will be here soon.”
    Jack opened his mouth, but Monica was done with the discussion. “No. Just go pack. I’m not arguing with you right now, Jack.”
    He must have sensed the desperation in her voice, because he took two garbage bags and headed to his room. Sarah did the same. As they got started, Monica covered the living room and kitchen, making sure to grab the small photo album she had taken before they left home. Running her hand over the dusty leather, Monica shook her head and frowned. It was all she had left of the happy childhood she’d lived, before her father had been killed in a work accident with the electrical company.
    Before Dan had entered their lives.
    Pushing her emotions back down, Monica stuffed another bag with what little clothing she did have. Sarah and Jack were well dressed, since most of the money she brought in went to keeping them clothed and fed, but Monica didn’t care about fashion. She cared about surviving. She’d long since let go of the yearning for material things. Those things were only temporary. Family was forever. Putting her trust in someone new was terrifying, but when the heavy knock sounded on the door, Monica couldn’t help but feel relief.
    She opened the door and stepped back to let Seth in. He was on edge, she could sense it, and as his eyes fell on the pile of bags in the living room, she was mortified that everything the three of them owned fit in six garbage sacks.
    “ What happened? Are you okay?” Seth asked, pinning her with his cool blue eyes.
    Monica nodded. “I’m fine. It’s just…time.