There was a brief pause. “Harlow, whose number is this?”
“Uh . . . that doesn’t matter right now. I need to talk to you, and I need you to listen to every word I say, and ask as little as possible,” I begged in a shaky voice. “Just know that I’m doing this to save all of us. It’s an emergency.”
“What in the hell are you going on about, Harlow?”
“Harlow?” my mom’s distant voice sounded on the other end. “What’s happening, is she okay?”
“She’s talking about saving—”
“Dad, have you seen Collin since we left this afternoon?”
“Well, no.”
The relief I felt was minimal, but it was still something. “And no police officers came back?”
“No. Are they going to? Is Hadley still in trouble?”
“Not like that. This is where I need you to listen to me, and just trust me, okay, Dad?”
“Harlow,” he began.
“Dad, please.”
“Okay. Okay, I’m listening.”
I took in a shaky breath and looked up at Knox, who nodded in encouragement as he stood there with his arms folded across his bare chest. My mouth opened, but no words came out. My throat had stopped working. I’d spent years avoiding this exact conversation, years fearing this conversation.
Seeing the panic that must have settled over my features, Knox let one hand go out to cradle my cheek while the other stayed tucked under his arm, and I let his presence calm my trembling body.
“Honey, you still there?” my dad asked.
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to remember the way I’d felt when I’d first realized Collin was going to kill me. I need to save them. I need to warn them, I said to myself, and before I could psych myself out again, blurted, “Dad, I need you to get Hadley out of the hospital, and I need you to get to Connecticut to Hayley tonight. If not tonight, then first thing tomorrow. Don’t tell anyone; don’t even tell Hayley.”
When I opened my eyes Knox was nodding, and I knew he agreed with my decision to get them as far from here as possible.
“Dad . . . Collin is bad,” I choked out.
“What?” he asked in disbelief, and I knew this would be hard on him—on my whole family. Collin walked on water, as far as they were concerned.
“He’s abusive,” I started, but he cut me off.
“Harlow,” he said in a disapproving voice.
“I’m telling you the truth!” I said a silent prayer as tears welled in my eyes—I needed him to believe me. My voice continued to waver and crack as I tried to make him understand. “He tried to drown me in the tub after we got home from the hospital. He was going to blame me for Hadley. He admitted to giving her the drugs this afternoon.”
“What?” he repeated, but this time it sounded like he was in shock.
“He’s been beating me since we got married, I haven’t left because he always threatens to kill one of you. He thought I tried to poison him this morning; that’s why Hadley is in the hospital.” I was sobbing now. “I promise I didn’t—but it’s my fault she’s in there. Dad, you need to get her out, and get all of you out of the state. He thinks I’m dead, but soon he’s going to know I’m not.”
My dad cursed and started mumbling something to my mom.
“Don’t tell anyone,” I reminded him. “Just leave.”
“You’ll meet us in Connecticut,” he said flat out.
I started to agree, but stopped. “He’ll be looking for me soon. He has police that work for him on the side . . . that’s how he got Hadley’s charges dropped. That’s why they got to her so fast today in the first place; they’d been following her. If I go to the airport, he’ll probably have airport police detain me. I can’t risk it.”
“Well, I’m not just leaving you here to deal with—”
“I have you,” Knox said, having heard everything.
Dad stopped. “Who was that?”
I swallowed thickly. I didn’t want to have to explain this over the phone, but I also would never be ashamed of the man standing in front of me. “It’s Knox, Dad. Knox Alexander.”
“Why would—is this his phone you called from?”
“Yes.”
“You’re going to explain yourself,” he said suddenly. “You’re going to have a lot to explain.”
“I understand, but right now I just need you to believe me, and do what I said.”
“Your mom is already on it. How do we get ahold of you if we need you?”
“My phone,” Knox answered.
Another pause, then my dad said, “I’m going to have a talk with that man. For now, tell him to keep you safe.”
“He will, Dad. I love you, and I’m so sorry.”
“If what you’re saying is true . . . well, I think we’re the ones who have to apologize for not seeing it. Love you, too, baby girl.”
A sharp sob burst from my chest when I ended the call, and I fell into Knox’s waiting arms.