Around nine o’clock, I finally headed home. Myra’s grandson had asked me to stay late with her, and as always I said yes. Any extra money was good money, no matter how many hours it took. I was getting close, really close. Next month was April, and that would be the time. I’d finally spread my wings and fly away.

The door was open, but the kitchen lay dark as I walked inside. Mike’s voice cut through the gloom. “You stupid bitch.”

I’d taken to ignoring Mike’s insults. I’d grown numb to them. They were all he ever said to me anymore. But something in his voice this time made me listen.

I flipped on the light. Why was he standing there in the dark? He was holding my phone, looking at me with murderous, bloodshot eyes.

“Why do you have my phone? I thought I’d lost it.” I couldn’t find it that morning. I’d searched everywhere, but then, running late, I’d left for Myra’s without it.

“You left it next to the sink. Where you leave all your dirty little secrets.”

Fuck, he was really mad about something. I hated that he had the power over me, but I started to shake. I’d gotten so good at avoiding him, and he stayed out so many nights, he’d barely hurt me in the past couple months. But given the right opportunity, I knew he could be deadly. That certainly described the look in his eyes.

“Can I—?” Instinctively, I reached for my phone, wanting it back. It was my most personal possession, with all my photos and phone numbers.

He moved it away, catching my wrist in a vice-like grip. “You’re not going to be needing your phone any more after tonight.”

Icy fear wrapped its tentacles around my heart. “Mike, what’s wrong?” I hated the way my voice quavered. I tried to stay calm, focused, and not panic.

“You thought I’d never find out?” He wrenched my arm up and behind me, forcing me against the counter. I winced in pain. “Did you think I was stupid? Did you? Huh?”

“Mike, let go of me. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I saw your texts. I know about Jax.”

I froze, my heart stopping for a moment in my chest. How could he have seen anything? I’d deleted everything.

“I used an app. I pulled them all up, every one of them. You were texting with him all summer. It went on for months, you fucking whore.”

“No, Mike, it’s not what you think.”

His fingers closed around my throat, squeezing, so painful. I clawed at him with my free fingers, like a bird pecking at an elephant. He didn’t move an inch, just stared at me with that cold, dead look in his eyes as he tightened his grip. Eyes wide, panic set in as I gasped for air. He’d threatened enough times. Now he was going to actually do it. He was going to kill me.

Desperate, I looked around for something I could use, something to help me get away from him. Over by the stove, a glint of metal caught my eye. A steak knife, left out in my haste to get out of the house that morning. If I could only get myself closer and reach out quick enough, I could grab it.

I stopped fighting him. I gathered all the strength I still possessed and hurled myself toward the knife. It must have been the element of surprise, my lurching to the right when he hadn’t expected it, because I got there. I reached out, made contact and wrapped my hand around the handle. Fast, quicker than I thought I’d ever acted before in my life, with all my might I jammed it straight into his gut.

He yelled in rage, releasing my throat. Stepping back in shock, he looked down at the handle sticking out of his stomach. “Fuck you do, bitch? You stabbed me!”

Gasping, sputtering for air, I doubled over, my lungs burning as I sucked in oxygen, my sight blurring with effort.

“You’re gonna fuckin pay.” He lunged at me, but I saw him coming and twisted away. Bringing my elbow up as hard and sharp as I could, I caught him right under his chin, rocking his head back. On its own, that wouldn’t have been enough. If that was all I had, he would have regained his balance and kept coming at me.

But he slipped. He’d started bleeding, the knife wound in his stomach leaking blood down his pants and dripping onto the floor. He stepped in it and when my elbow caught him in the jaw he lost his balance, slipping and falling. The sound his head made when he cracked it against the edge of the countertop was so loud I almost felt like I was in a movie, the sound amplified for effect. He toppled to the ground, the weight of his body slamming against the floor with a quaking thud.

I stood for a few seconds too long, staring at him lying there. He looked unconscious, but I shouldn’t have wasted any time finding out. I was shocked, though, so shocked to see that knife sticking out of his gut. His eyes stayed closed as he lay there, breathing heavily, passed out on the floor.

Movement returned to my limbs in a rush, a surge of adrenaline jolting me into action. He’d dropped my phone after I stabbed him. I ran to it and snatched it up. Running into the bedroom, I threw open the closet, pulled down the blankets I kept on the uppermost shelf and grabbed my backpack behind them, the one with all the cash. Without even a glance behind me, I shoved the window open and jumped out onto the fire escape. Every step sounded so loud, the noise of my footsteps on the metal loud enough to wake the dead.

Was Mike dead? I didn’t think so. The fall had knocked him unconscious, but he’d be up again soon. Like a monster, he’d come after me, searching until he could destroy me.

I’d been planning for months, saving up, getting close to the day I would buy a one-way bus ticket to Phoenix. I’d rehearsed the plan in my head a million times. I’d do it on one of my days off, when I’d have hours without anyone looking for me. But now was not the time to go wait at a bus station. Mike would know to look there. He’d probably find me as I sat there, shaking.

But I knew where he’d go first. I had to get to Jax before Mike. At a red light, I took out my phone. He might be at the bar, or out with his girlfriend. I needed to warn Jax that he was in danger.

Sky: You home?

Seconds later, he replied.

Jax: I can be in a few minutes. Everything OK?

Sky: Be there in 5

I’d be there in five. He had to be there in five. It meant both, and no I was not OK but I didn’t take the time to say it. When the answer was no, it made more sense to just drive.

I knew where Jax lived. He’d given me his address months ago and of course it had instantly burned its way into my brain. My car closed the distance between our homes in about 20 minutes, but it felt like 20 hours. I was shaking so violently I had trouble driving, making erratic turns and stopping short at lights. The rush of adrenaline that had helped me fight back, then flee the scene was ebbing away, leaving in its wake acute pain. My shoulder ached fiercely from where Mike had wrenched my arm back. My wrist throbbed, and my throat felt like I’d drunk fire. Blinking away tears, shaking and disoriented, I somehow made it there.

Jax was standing in his garage, door open and waiting for me when I pulled up in front. I parked and stepped out warily. Every shadow seemed like it might be Mike waiting to leap out at me, as if he could somehow have beaten me there.

“Sky, what’s wrong?” Jax stepped forward, grasping my elbow to steady me.

“He’s coming,” I gripped his arm, looking up. “He’s going to come after you.”

“What? Sky, come inside. Let me get you something to drink.” He started ushering me in, holding me to his side, supporting some of my body weight and helping me walk. But now wasn’t the time to sit, have a drink and calm down. Now was the time to jump the hell up.

“Jax, I need you to listen to me.” I pulled away in the garage, speaking urgently, low and serious. “I just stabbed Mike. But I don’t think I killed him.”

That got his attention. Jax stopped, both hands on my waist as he looked into my eyes. “Are you all right?”

“I’m…” I shut my eyes for a moment, my hand to my throat. Everything hurt, my wrist, my shoulder, my lungs. “I’m all right. I don’t need a doctor.”

“Are you sure?” Tension laced through his voice. “Did he hurt you?”

I opened my eyes again, needing to make sure Jax understood the situation. “He did hurt me, but it’s nothing that has to be dealt with right now. He found out you and I were texting and he flipped out. He was going to kill me—” I couldn’t help it, I broke off in a shuddering sob. The icy, murderous look in Mike’s eyes, the depths to which I knew, without a doubt, he was capable. I’d brushed so close to death.

“Sky.” Jax held me, his arms wrapped around my shaking body. Even through my shock, my pain, I could feel his body heat, take comfort from his closeness. But I couldn’t relax and enjoy it.

Pushing a palm up to his chest, I put some space between us. I had to keep my head clear. “He was hurting me, but I was able to grab a knife.”

“Where did you stab him?”

“In his stomach.” I winced at the memory, how squishy and easy the knife had gone in. I’d never physically hurt anyone before. I hoped I never had to again.

“And what happened? Did he pass out from bleeding?”

“No, he was bleeding, but he still had plenty of strength.” With a shudder, I remembered how he’d lunged for me. “I elbowed him and he slipped and banged his head on the counter. He went down and I ran.”

“Come here. You did good.” He hugged me again. I shook uncontrollably in his arms. “It’s going to be all right.” His voice sounded so calm and convincing, I was able to take my first deep breath since the fight. He kissed my hair and pulled me away, enough so he could look into my eyes. “Sounds like we have some time, but maybe not much.”

“He’ll want to kill you.” My stomach flipped with nausea again, knowing the truth of my words. “Should we call the police?” I knew I probably should have called from the apartment, at least 911 to have them send an ambulance for Mike. But all I could think about was fleeing for safety, getting away from there and putting everything behind me.

“We need to get you somewhere safe.” Jax put his arm around my back, ushering me into the house. “Come on in for a minute. I’ll grab a couple things. Then we’ll get out of here.”

Shaking, I followed him in. “I know it’s probably not right.” My voice had an edge of tears to it. “I just left him there, bleeding—”

“Sky.” He brought his hands to my shoulders and tipped my chin up to look at him. “He almost choked you to death. I can see his fingerprints on your throat. Thank God you were able to defend yourself. You did the right thing.”

I nodded, knowing he was right. I’d be dead if Mike had gotten what he wanted.

“You got away,” he continued, “but we need to get you somewhere safe. Then we can think about the police.” He grabbed a glass in his kitchen and filled it with water. After walking me over to the couch, he handed it to me. “Drink this and sit for a minute. And know that I mean what I say to you.” His tone grew serious as he gave me a promise. “You will be safe, Sky. I’m going to make sure of it.”

I felt sick to my stomach, dizzy, my brain crowded with pain and fear and panic. But I also felt the power of his words. Jax told me he was going to make sure I was safe. I more than believed him. I knew it was true.

But I did feel awful, showing up at his home bruised and desperate, telling him his life was in danger. I’d brought trouble to his door. He didn’t deserve to be pulled into this mess.

When he walked back into the room, he had his jacket and a grey duffel bag over his shoulder. “I’m sorry.” I spoke quietly, but he heard me.

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” He reached down, grasped my hand and pulled me up to standing.

“I do,” I insisted, unable to meet his eyes. “Mike’s crazy. He’s so violent. He’ll stop at nothing.”

“I don’t stop either, Sky.” He worked his strong fingers through my hair, cradling the back of my head. “I stayed away from you because you told me that was what you wanted. But now? I’m not going to rest until I’m sure you’re safe. You’ve suffered enough alone.”

Tears filled my eyes. I had felt so alone for such a long time. I’d grown so isolated, feeling like I was doing prison time, solely focused on my escape. But now it looked like I’d have company on my jail break.

“I’ve dragged you into a real mess.” I looked up at him ruefully, wishing I could change things, rearrange history, delete some choices and alter others. But that wasn’t the way life worked. Everything was connected. If I hadn’t married Mike, I never would have even met Jax.

“Any mess I’m in, I walked into it, eyes wide open.” He held me again, murmuring into my ear, “I’m in.”

I nodded against his chest. “OK.”

“Good. Now let’s get the fuck out of here.” He grabbed my hand and led me back to the garage, loading his duffel into the back of the truck. “You need to drive your car and follow me until we can ditch it. Can you do that?”

“Yes,” I automatically agreed, tamping down the panic I felt at getting separated from him. It was ridiculous. I hadn’t even seen him for six months. Now I didn’t want to leave his side for a second.

“Not for long.” He looked all around as he walked me to my car.

“Where are we going?” I asked as I climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Somewhere safe. Stay right behind me.”

He didn’t peal out of the driveway, rubber shrieking to alarm the neighborhood. But he didn’t crawl out at a leisurely pace, either. I pulled out after his truck, sticking close at every light as we made our way to the freeway.

We were on the run, racing against time. Who knew where Mike was right then? In my heart, I knew he was up, alert, on the hunt. He might even be tailing us at that moment, following our every move, waiting for a vulnerable moment when he could strike.

My phone buzzed with a text.

Mike: GONNA KILL YOU BITCH

I threw my phone down to the floor, shaking violently. We had to get away, far away, somewhere we’d leave no trace. I had no idea where that place could be. But I prayed Jax might.