Stephanie's POV
The car smelled like leather and old coffee.
I sat as far from Cane as I could, pressed against the door, arms wrapped tight around the kids' bags.
My eyes stayed on the window. The city blurred past, but I didn't see anything. My head was full of noise: Josh crying, Jolina's scared little face, the teacher's blood on the ground, Cane's hands on me last night.
I just wanted quiet.
Just five minutes where my heart didn't feel like it was being torn in two directions.
I prayed inside my head, hard, like a little girl again. 'Please, God, let him keep his mouth shut. Just this once. Please'
He didn't.
"Steph…" His voice was soft, careful.
I didn't move. Didn't answer. Just stared at the glass and counted the streetlights.
He tried again, a little louder. "Stephanie."
Something inside me snapped.
