The knock came at 10:47 PM.
Salome was in the kitchen, washing bottles and trying not to think about the bruises still visible on her wrist from Friday. Kai had finally gone down after an hour of fussing—teething again, his little gums swollen and red.
She'd spent the weekend in a fog of anxiety and relief. Relief that Demarcus had paid the child support. Anxiety about what that meant. What Malachi had done. What Demarcus might do in retaliation.
The knock came again. Harder this time.
Salome's stomach dropped.
She dried her hands on a dish towel and walked to the front door, checking the peephole.
Demarcus.
Her heart started pounding.
He wasn't supposed to be here. He'd already dropped Kai off that morning—late, angry, but he'd done it. There was no reason for him to come back.
S
