Chapter 4 - LEAVING THE DEN OF SNAKES
Ethan turned his back on his wife, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing him lose control.
"Max, heel," Ethan commanded, and the massive German Shepherd immediately fell into position at his left side.
"Ethan, wait! You can't just take my daughter!" Jessica screamed, scrambling to her feet in a panic.
"She isn't safe in a house run by a mother who treats her like trash," Ethan answered without looking back.
Brad stepped between Ethan and the front door, attempting to block the exit with a posture of bravado.
"I called Sheriff Higgins before you smashed my phone... the police are on their way, Sergeant," Brad sneered.
Ethan didn't slow down; he drove his shoulder into Brad’s chest, sending the man crashing into the side table.
A framed photograph of Ethan and Jessica from their wedding day tumbled off the table, shattering on the floor.
Ethan stepped over the broken glass, carrying his daughter out into the roaring night air.
The heavy rain battered his face, but his heart was burning with a cold, unstoppable determination.
He placed Lily carefully into the passenger seat of his old Ford F-150 parked down the driveway.
Max leaped into the truck bed, shaking the rainwater from his dark coat before sitting alert.
Ethan climbed into the driver's seat, turning the key to hear the V8 engine roar to life.
As he pulled out onto the dark country road, he looked in his rearview mirror to see Jessica standing under the porch light.
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She wasn't crying anymore; she was staring at his truck with a look of pure, venomous hatred.
***
