I hate fitted sheets. Literally, hate them.

At twenty-four years old, I still hadn’t figured out how to fold the dang things.

Puffing out an exasperated breath, I took the pile of sheets that I’d been wrestling with for the last ten minutes, rolled them into a makeshift burrito and placed them on the linen rack. To hell with it. They were just sheets. Who cares if they were wrinkled?

I jumped as the phone on the wall began to ring.

Ring… Ring… Ring!

Clutching my chest with a shaking hand, I turned around and eyeballed the twenty-year-old hunk of junk that served as the laundry room phone. “I hate you,” I hissed as I walked over to the stupid thing and picked it up. Placing the receiver to my ear, I said, “Toluca Women’s Shelter, this is Madelyn speaking. How can I help you?”

“Madelyn, this is Daisy Rivera calling from Toluca Memorial Hospital. How are you doing this evening?”

I leaned my shoulder against the wall. “I’m doing good, Daisy. How are you?”

Papers rustled in the background. “Doing great, dear, thanks for asking.” I wiped the sweat beads that dotted my forehead away with the back of my arm. “Listen, I’m calling to see if you have any beds available. I’ve got a couple of patients that I’m trying to find shelter for.”

A couple?

Reaching over, I grabbed my clipboard from the folding table where a couple of dozens unfolded towels still sat. “How many is a couple?”

“Three. One adult female and two minors. Both boys.”

I looked at the spreadsheet on my board. Crap. I only had one-bed open. “What’s their status?”

“Urgent. Mom is a DVV. Says she has no family in the area and friends are non-existent.” DVV stood for Domestic Violence Victim. My stomach lurched at the familiar acronym.

“Who was the offender?”

“Her husband.” What a son of a bitch. “He’s also the father of both boys.”

“Did they arrest him?”

“Fortunately, yes. Officer Fields informed us that they can only hold him for twenty-four hours before the mandatory DV hold expires. After that, he’ll be eligible to see a judge and have a bond set.”

“Does he have the means to bond out? Financially I mean.”

“Our patient says so. From the way she spoke, I don’t think money is going to be an issue.”

So, the abusive bastard was well off. Lovely. “I only have one bed left.” I bit my lower lip as I wracked my brain. “Have you tried Garrison County?”

“I called them and Kissler County before calling you. Both are full.”

Again, crap.

Lowering her voice, Daisy whispered into the phone, “Listen, Madelyn, I know I shouldn’t say this and believe me, I don’t want to put this on your shoulders, but if we can’t find a way to help them, CPS is prepared to take emergency custody of the boys.” I gasped in shock. “Apparently, this isn’t the first time this family has crossed their radar.”

“What?” I practically screeched. “But you said they arrested the father?”

“He’ll only be locked up for another day. After that, who knows what will happen.”

That didn’t make a lick of sense—not unless… “Do they suspect the mother is abusive too?”

Daisy was quick to answer. “Absolutely not. In fact, Dr. Wilson made a note in the mother’s file about the relationship that she seemed to have with her kids. I’m not a child psychologist or anything, but from the way everyone was talking, I’m ninety-nine-point-nine percent positive the father is the only abuser.”

“That means…” I dropped my head forward. “Oh, my God.”

“I know, honey, I just thought maybe…”

I know what she thought. She thought that I’d find a way to pull a miracle out of my butt even if I didn’t have any open beds.

She was right.

“You know what, just send them here. I’ll figure it out. Heck, I’ll make a couple of pallets in the hallway if I have too.” There was no way I would turn this family away and give CPS cause to jump into their business. As a social worker myself, I knew what a mess that would be. Whoever these people were, they didn’t need to deal with that on top of the issues they were already facing.

Daisy exhaled loudly. “Thank you, Madelyn. Thank you so much. I was worried…”

“Not a problem. I’ll figure it out.” And by figure it out I meant that I was about to forge intake forms and break nearly half a dozen fire codes since this would push us over capacity.

To hell with it.

Let them fire me.

Let them arrest me.

Daisy spent the next fifteen minutes giving me all the information she had on the family. By the end of our conversation, my blood was boiling. Swear to God, at that moment I was capable of murder.

How could someone be so evil? I would never understand!

“I’ll call First Defense and arrange for transport. Are you going to be at the shelter for a while?”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me through the phone. “I’ll be here all night.”

“Okay. I’m going to fax over the discharge papers along with the medical release forms. If you don’t receive them within the next ten minutes’ call and let me know.”

“I will. Thanks, Daisy.”

She coughed. “No, thank you, Madelyn. You’re a lifesaver. Literally.”

“Bye, Daisy.” I hung up. Leaning against the wall for support, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Lord, I was tired.

Pushing away from the wall, I walked back over to the folding table.

“Shelby!” I called out to one of my team members as a bead of sweat slid down the back of my neck and disappeared beneath the collar of my tank top. Seconds later, Shelby walked into the room with a smile on her face. “I need your help.” I blew out an exasperated breath before continuing. “Daisy called. We’ve got a couple of new intakes coming in.”

Shelby’s smiled dropped. “How many?”

“One woman, early twenties, and two kids. Little boys, aged five and four.”

Shelby jumped into action. Grabbing the essentials, she began putting together a new intake package. Clean sheets, soap, deodorant, three toothbrushes, toothpaste, and a box of Kleenex all got tossed in a corded white plastic bag. “How bad is it?”

I closed my eyes as anger churned in the pit of my guts. “Bad. Daisy didn’t go into a lot of detail. Just said the woman has a fractured arm, busted collarbone and shattered wrist along with significant bruising and abrasions on her face.”

As soon as the words left my mouth, a memory came rushing forward. I could hear his voice just as clearly as if he were standing in front of me. “It’s not a deep cut, pretty girl. It’ll heal soon.” My hands began to shake. I felt sick. If I had a choice, I would have crawled into the corner and cried myself to sleep.

Thankfully, Shelby hissed out a curse, pulling me back to the present. “And who’s the bastard that’s responsible?”

“Her husband.” Her jaw ticked, and her right eye twitched.

“What about the boys? They okay?”

I nodded once. “Physically? Yes. Emotionally? Remains to be seen.”

“Oh no.” She dipped her head forward before quickly jerking it back up. “Please tell me the boys didn’t see it happen.” One look at my face and she already knew the answer to her question. “Gosh dang it!” She smacked the metal-linen rack beside her with the palm of her hand. “That son of a bitch. That. Son. Of. A. Frickin’. Bitch!”

I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “The oldest boy… he was the one to call 911.”

Shelby’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh, Jesus.”

I dropped the towels I was folding into a white laundry basket at my feet. “I know, I can’t even imagine.” But I could imagine. I’d seen first-hand how wicked people could be, how evil they could become. “All three of them have a long road ahead of them.”

“That’s the truth. So, what’s the plan? I mean, do we need to call in extra security? Is the husband still a threat?”

Leaning over, I picked up the laundry basket and a box of trash bags. “I have no clue. Transport will brief us once they get here.” I glanced up at the clock on the laundry room wall. “Which should be any minute now.” I nodded towards the door. “Come on. Let’s go. We’ve still got a lot of stuff to get done before they get here.”

Clenching the intake bag in her hands, Shelby walked out of the room first, and I followed. By the set of her shoulders, I knew she was upset. Not that I blamed her. Day after day, week after week, it was the same thing.

Battered women.

Abused children.

One after another, they walked through the shelter’s door covered in fresh bruises and sporting mangled limbs, seeking solace and safety. Looking for someone to help them.

That, someone, was me. It was also Shelby, a girl who’d experienced more than her share of demons, and the dozen other shelter employees who worked tirelessly and with little pay, to save the forgotten.

To protect the broken.

Just like I should have protected him.

Approaching my office, I saw all six members of my team huddled around my desk waiting for me. Shelby must’ve paged them when I wasn’t looking.

I dropped the laundry basket on the floor next to my filing cabinet and huffed out a breath, blowing the limp strands of hair out of my face. “Alright, so…,” addressing each of five women plus one man in the room. “We’ve got three new intakes set to arrive any moment.” I walked over to my fax machine, grabbed the still warm sheets of paper that had just been printed, and quickly scanned them. “The first intake is a woman, named Clara O’Bannon. She’s twenty-three and has two sons. Both of which will arrive with her. Liam is the oldest. He’s five. And Declan, the littlest guy, is four.”

The shelter’s head of security, ex-marine, and all around badass, Evan Morgan, crossed his arms over his wide chest. The thin cotton of his shirt strained against the broad muscles. “What happened?”

I looked up, my eyes meeting his. “I don’t know much except that it was her husband who did it.” He opened his mouth to speak again, but I already knew what he would ask. “Wrist, collarbone, and arm are all broken. She also has visible lacerations on her face.”

Evan shook his head, his jaw clenched tight. “They arrest the husband?”

I nodded. “Yes. The police arrested him at the scene. At a minimum, he’ll be on a twenty-four-hour domestic violence hold but then,” my stomach rolled, “after that, he may bond out.”

“He got the resources for that?”

“We think so.”

The room fell silent as each of us let my words sink in.

More victims. Another monster.

Shelby was the first to speak. “What do you need us to do?” She chewed on her thumbnail. It was a nervous habit she’d had ever since I’d met her two years ago.

“Yeah, boss lady, give us the orders so we can get started.” That came from Ethel, one of the sweetest old ladies I’d ever met. She reminded me so much of my Grandmama.

I dropped the file on my desk and looked at Evan, “I need you outside waiting for transport. They’re supposed to call when their ETA is two minutes, but you know how that goes. Also, while you’re waiting, do you mind doing another walk around? We haven’t had any trouble in a few weeks, so that means we’re due.”

Evan nodded. “I’m on it, sweetheart.” Turning on his heel, he left, his hand on the gun he kept at his side.

I looked to Carissa. Carissa was twenty and a full-time college student majoring in social work. She’d been volunteering at the shelter for the last two years and was one of the best workers I had. “Can you take Heidi and get three beds ready?”

Heidi was Carissa’s eighteen-year-old sister. She was smart, beautiful, and one of the most soft-hearted people I’d ever met. I can’t tell you how many times I’d found her crying in the bathroom over some of the things she’d witnessed while volunteering. But like the angel she was, she continued to help and continued to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves, even when it was killing her on the inside.

I couldn’t have been prouder of either girl.

Like Shelby, Evan, Ethel, and Hope, they were rays of light in an otherwise dark world. They were the good, the grace, that everyone at the shelter clung to.

“We’re on it.” Carissa grabbed Heidi’s hand and drug her out of the room.

Next, I peered over at Ethel. “Granny Ethel, tonight two little boys watched their Daddy beat their mama half to death. The oldest, Liam, was the one to call 911 to get his mama some help. He more than likely saved her life.” Tears glistened in her eyes as her mouth twisted in sorrow. “I bet our little hero would love some of your homemade sugar cookies. Don’t you?”

Ethel turned around and grabbed her pink and grey checkered apron from a hook on the wall. “Consider it done.” Then, she walked out of the room, her stride determined, as she headed for the kitchen.

The phone on my desk rang. I picked it up, pressing the receiver to my ear, “Toluca Women’s Shelter.”

“This is Richard from Defense Transport. Just calling to let you know we’re two minutes out.”

“Got it. We’ll be ready.” I looked at Shelby and pointed at my watch. She nodded in understanding.

“10-4. See you in a few.”

I hung up. Picking up a set of keys from my desk, I looked at the girls. “Let’s go.” I walked out first with both Shelby and Hope falling into step behind me.

Crossing into the main room of the shelter, I plastered a fake smile on my face. Over ninety women and children were watching us as we made our way to the steel door that leads to the outside intake area. Normally, we weren’t this packed, but over the last few weeks, we’d had intake after intake come in. In fact, I’d had to turn away multiple people due to lack of space. Every time I was forced to say no it sent me spiraling. Depression. Anxiety. I suffered from both.

Macy, a little girl with curly blonde hair, waved in our direction. “Hi!”

I waved back, my broken heart healing a smidgen at the sight of her smiling face.

Sweet girl.

Darlene, a woman in her thirties, stood up as we approached the cot where she slept next to her four children. Like Clara O’Bannon, Darlene had been abused at the hands of a monster.

A monster who had vowed to love, protect, and honor her for the rest of their lives.

“New arrivals?” She crossed her arms protectively over her chest. I nodded, and Darlene dropped her face to the floor. “Damn it.” She looked back up. “I’m so sorry.”

I placed my hand on her arm. “Not your fault, beautiful lady.”

Darlene smiled and some of the heaviness weighing on my shoulders lifted. “I think you’re the first person ever to call me beautiful.”

I scrunched up my face. “Huh? The rest of the world must be blind then.”

Raising her hand, she wrapped her bony fingers around my wrist and squeezed. “You’re one in a million, Lucky.” Now it was my turn to smile. Darlene never called me by my real name. When I first met her a little over a month ago, she’d dubbed me Miss Lucky because she said my eyes reminded her of a four-leaf clover. I liked that.

I liked that a lot.

The two-way radio clipped to my shorts buzzed, and Evan’s voice came through. “Transports here, boss lady.”

I unclipped the radio, pressed the button on the side and responded, “Coming out now.”

Darlene let go of my wrist, and I let my hand drop. “Go get em’, Lucky.” She nodded towards the door. “They need you.”

They need you.

I blinked once. Twice. Then, I moved.

After unlocking the heavy metal door, I waited for Shelby and Hope to take their positions at my side. Together we took a collective breath, and I pulled the door open.

Here we go…

Three men, including Evan, stood at the front of a black Suburban with windows tinted so dark they were impenetrable to my eyes. I hustled down the steps, my loose ponytail bouncing with every movement.

I stepped up next to Evan and waved at the guy holding a brown file under his arm. “Hi,” I said, not really looking at him. I pointed towards the file. “Can I have that?” He handed it over, his fingertips brushing mine. I barely, and I mean barely, kept from recoiling from his touch. “Thanks.”

I flipped it open and began to read. I was so engrossed by the words on the intake form in front of me that I barely heard the guy say, “Holy shit! I know you.”

My head popped up. “Excuse me?”

“Your Maddie Davis.” He smiled, showing off his perfect white teeth. “We went to school together.”

Oh no.

“Uh…” I wasn't sure what to say.

“Come on, girl, don't tell me you've forgotten me.”

I stared at him.

Blonde hair. Blue eyes. Tall. Fit. I had no idea who he was. But then he smirked, and it hit me. I knew who he was alright. “You’re Ty Jacobs.” The little bastard who stole my lunch money.

“That’s me. Damn, baby doll I haven’t seen you in forever. How have you been?”

We weren’t going there. Snapping the file closed, I handed it back to him and replied, “I’ve been great. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my intakes need me.”

He stepped back, raking his eyes over me. What. The. Hell? “No problem.”

I ignored him and walked to the passenger’s side of the suburban. Closing my eyes, I silently prayed. God, please give me strength.

I opened the door.

And my heart stopped.