“You’re welcome. I’m going to head home. Let me know how she does.”

Lina nodded. “I’ll walk you out.”

“No. Stay with your husband.” The meaning behind his words was clear.

“Thank you,” she whispered, embracing him briefly.

“I’ll walk you out,” Adele said. “I could use some fresh air.”

It was an hour later when Lina preceded Phil into Shiloh’s hospital room, halting when she saw her sister’s bruised and battered face. Lina heard Phil’s intake of breath before he gripped her upper arms, pulling her back into his chest.

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

“Don’t think about it,” Phil said, but it was too late. Her mind was already going back.

Shiloh was screaming. Lina scrambled off her bed and ducked down on the floor, her heart racing as she felt the wall shake. Something terrible was happening. She needed to get to a phone and call 911. There was no one else home. Adele and her mother were away at a college visit. Another scream. What was happening?

“Get her fucking legs,” a male voice yelled. “Shut the fuck up, girl!” The sound of a slap pierced the air. “Did you check that room?”

Lina slipped under her bed as footsteps approached. They were coming for her. She was never going to see Phil again. She covered her eyes and prayed to a God she didn’t even know if she believed in.

“What have we got here?” a voice with a distinct southern accent asked before someone gripped her ankles.

“No!” she cried, kicking at the intruder as she was pulled from beneath the bed. “Phil! Phil, help me! Phil!”

“Shouldn’t you be calling for Lucifer, pretty girl?” a boy no older than eighteen said as he pulled her to her feet, his fingers bruising as they dug into her arm. “Ain’t that who you worship?”

“Don’t hurt me,” she whispered. “Please.”

“‘Please,’” he mimicked. “You scared?”

Lina nodded, hating how weak she felt. “Don’t hurt me.”

“You gonna make it worth my while not to hurt you?” He roughly squeezed her breast through her nightshirt.

She recoiled from him, pushing his hand away. “No!”

“No?” He grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back. “Don’t you fuckin’ tell me no.” He pushed his hand beneath her shirt and palmed her breast. “You like that, don’t you, whore?”

“Let’s go,” another guy said as he stepped into the room. “There’ll be time for that later.”

“Hear that, baby?” He pushed his groin against her leg. “You’re gonna take care of me later.”

Lina let him lead her out of the room and down the hall, her mind so consumed with thoughts of escape, it wasn’t until they were halfway down the stairs that she registered the sound of skin slapping against skin, punctuated by deep moaning. “Fuck yeah, man. Give it to her.”