Chapter 1
I came home early and found my four-year-old daughter on her knees beside the dog’s food tray—with a chain around her neck and my mother-in-law standing over her.
For one second, I couldn’t breathe.
Then Emma looked up at me.
“Mommy…”
I dropped my bag and ran across the kitchen.
My mother-in-law, Diane, grabbed the chain.
“Stay where I put you.”
I shoved her hand away.
“Take this off my daughter!”
Emma was crying so hard she could barely speak.
There were crackers scattered beside the dog’s bowl.
Diane folded her arms.
“She threw her lunch on the floor, so I taught her how spoiled children eat.”
“She’s four!”
I dropped to my knees and fumbled with the clasp around Emma’s neck.
Diane grabbed my shoulder.
“Don’t interfere when I’m disciplining her.”
I spun around.
“Never touch my child again.”
She slapped me.
I stared at her for half a second.
Then I lunged.
We crashed against the dining table as she grabbed my hair.
I shoved her away from Emma.
Diane screamed, “This is my son’s house!”
“I don’t care whose house it is!”
She came at me again, and I blocked her arms while Emma crawled beneath the table crying.
Our dog started barking wildly.
I finally broke free and pulled Emma against my chest.
“Mommy, please don’t leave me with Grandma anymore.”
My heart stopped.
I looked down at her.
“What has she been doing when I’m at work?”
Diane suddenly went silent.
Emma pointed toward the basement door.
“She puts me down there when I cry.”
Diane rushed toward her.
“Emma, shut your mouth!”
I stepped between them.
May you like
Then Emma whispered something that made Diane’s face turn white.
“There’s another chain downstairs.”
