When Riley and I got home, a strange sense of peace washed over me. We were still days away from making our escape, but a plan was in motion. And whether it was right or wrong, somehow I trusted Derek when he said he wouldn't let anything happen to us. I felt lighter than I had in months, knowing I just had to get through the next few days and Riley and I would be on our way to starting a new life.

I sent her outside to play in the yard while I did a few things in the house. I needed to do my best to keep things as normal as possible around here so that Robby wouldn't be tipped off to anything and get everything together that we were taking with us.

Robby wouldn't be home for a few more hours, so I figured now was as good a time to start as any. Derek told me to keep it minimal, which wouldn't be all that difficult. I didn't want to take anything along that would remind me of the nightmare our lives here had become.

As I started to sort a few things, a photo on my nightstand caught my attention. It was from our wedding day. I picked it up, brushing off the dust and looking down at those two bright, smiling, naïve faces. If only I could go back and time and tell this girl to run. To leave it all behind and not be fooled by the glamour and romance of it all. If only I could warn her. Even if I had been able to, I knew she wouldn't listen. I bit my lip gently, setting it back down. I couldn't save the girl I once was, but I could save Riley, and that was all that mattered now.

Instead of finishing up my own packing, I went into her room. I didn't care what I brought with me, but she'd need a few more things to make her feel more comfortable on the run. I sifted through her laundry, pulling out a few things and putting others away. The sound of the door to her bedroom opening startled me. I turned, expecting to find my daughter, but instead, I found Robby staring back and forth between me and the bag on the bed. Holy shit.

"What are you doing?" He asked flatly.

Quickly falling into character, I plastered a huge, fake smile on my face. "Hey babe.. I'm just going through Riley's clothes, she's going through another growth spurt and there is a woman down the street who has a daughter her age, I was going to see if she wanted some of this instead of just getting rid of it." I brushed my lips against his cheek and continuing with what I was doing as if it was normal. "I didn't expect you home so soon. How was your day?"

"I wanted to surprise you..." He said apprehensively, at least appearing to believe my story. He pulled his hand from behind his back and produced a gigantic bouquet of roses. "And apologize for what happened last night. I was an asshole and I don't deserve you."

No, you don't. I wanted to say. Instead, I kept my mouth shut.

"Look, Cam, I know I've said this before, but I really want to change. I talked to the department today about taking some anger management classes. They offer them free to officers and I enrolled in them. I start Monday." He looked boyish and nervous. Almost like he had when we first met.

I was completely taken aback by his words. Robby had never made any kind of effort to fix things this way before. This was completely new. Was he changing his ways? No, Camryn. I said to myself, trying to stay strong. Men like Robby don't change. This would have been good two years ago, when we really had an opportunity to fix things. Now that I made my mind up, it just seemed like too little, too late. I pressed my lips into a thin smile. "That's great, Robby."

"I brought home some steaks and your favorite wine. I figured I could grill and we could let Riley swim for a while. What do you think?" He gave me a hopeful smile. I glanced at the bottle in his hands. It was petty, but just another thing that proved how little he knew about me. It was a chardonnay and my favorite wine was a cabernet.

"That sounds great." I said, my mood quickly souring. After talking with Derek about the possibility of Riley and I getting out of here, an evening of playing house with Robby and acting like a normal family was the last thing I wanted to do. At one point, a night like this was all I ever dreamed about, but now it was just a painful reminder of what wasn't and would never be.

As promised, Robby grilled the steaks while I sat on the edge of the pool watching Riley swim. She'd known how since she was three, and was practically a fish now, but having a pool in the backyard still worried me. Robby served us dinner, and we had a great evening playing out in the yard. I watched as he played a game of hide and seek with Riley, the two of them laughing and giggling as they ran from each other. Most people thought she looked like me, but when I saw them together, it was so clear that she looked exactly like her father.

I had to bite back my tears as I watched them, knowing what was to come. In a few days, she would never see him again, and despite all of his faults, he had always been a good father to her. Maybe it was the wine getting to me, but I was feeling apprehensive and emotional. Was I doing the right thing? Was she going to hate me forever? Was I stupid to think we could walk away, and he'd leave it be? Obviously Robby would know he hadn't killed us. Would he hunt us down until he finally did?

Watching them was like watching someone else's life, one I wished I could have given my daughter. I hated Robby for making me feel this way. He had no right to treat me the way he did and then swoop in, professing he had changed and wanted to be better. No right to threaten to kill us both in one breath and then play with her like an adoring father the next. No right to steal our lives this way. When I remembered that, I knew I was doing the right thing, but when I watched them together, and when he acted like the man that I knew he could be, I was overcome with doubt.

My mind was elsewhere as I met with Will and a few of our other guys. While I was occupied with Camryn most of the day, we'd had a huge problem. One of our accounts was hijacked and nearly three million dollars was missing. Now, not only were we down the money, but I had several clients questioning the reliability of our operation.

The entire thing was baffling to me. Every system we had was tight and unpenetrable. If one was breached, that meant that there were issues on the inside and that was about the last thing I wanted to be dealing with. All I could seem to focus on was Camryn.

What had started out as a pet project for my brother had quickly turned into something much deeper. I couldn't tell if it was my hatred for Robby or my concern for Camryn and Riley or even the magnetic attraction I was feeling towards her, but regardless, she occupied nearly every thought of mine. And that was something I needed to curtail. I had a business to run, and getting attached to her in the worst moments of her life wasn't an option. No matter how fucking gorgeous and alluring she was.

"So, what do you want to do?" Will asked, glancing back at me.

I clenched my jaw, running through possibilities in my mind. "For now, transfer the money from my account so there are no discrepancies, but change all the routing numbers. I'm assuming the leak came from somewhere on the inside."

Will nodded, starting directing his men.

"Then no new accounts open until we know what's going and that we can guarantee no fuck-ups."

Will agreed. "I'll take care of it, and no one will know anything is amiss."

I ignored most of, again consumed with thoughts of Camryn and how things were going for her and Riley tonight. Were they safe? Were they happy?

Will sent some guys over on surveillance a bit ago. I had nothing better to do tonight. Maybe I would relieve them for a while—just so I could make sure they were safe. I realized how slippery of a slope I was already on, but couldn't seem to stop myself.

"I need to go. Call me if you have anything, otherwise I'll see you tomorrow." I said, standing up and grabbing my coat. I headed down to the garage and got into my car, steering it toward the Hastings house.

It was still light out when I pulled up, and I located Will's security quickly. After sending them on their way, I settled in and watched what was going on.

I could see all three of them in the backyard. Robby was running back and forth in the yard with Riley, who was dying with laughter. Camryn was sitting on a patio couch, curled up with a glass of wine in her hands, watching them just as thoughtfully as I was. I could see her wipe at her cheek, probably at tears, but couldn't actually tell she was crying. I knew days like this were the hardest. They made women question everything. Things were good and the promise of a better life was so fresh and so desperately wanted. I could only hope Camryn wasn't naïve enough to fall for it. Domestic violence was such a vicious cycle.

I watched as they cleaned up dinner and then headed inside, cringing as he slung his arms round her and pulled her in for a kiss. I watched as lights went on through the house and eventually off, wondering what was happening behind closed doors. At any sign of distress and I'd be there, but for now, I had to sit back and guess.

Will shot me a text, and I laughed out loud when I saw it

My team said you relieved them... You're running surveillance now?

Just keeping an eye on things. I responded.

Another test came through that I expected to be Will, but it was the burner phone I had given to Camryn.

Thank you for everything today. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help.

I smiled to myself, typing back. No problem at all. Stay safe and I'll see you soon.

___________________________

***If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence of any kind, please reach out to someone in your community. In the US, that number is 1-800-799-7233**