Alan continues to fume but with the mention of something valuable, he deflates enough to allow Daniel to continue.

He holds up the car keys and Alan’s eyes zoom in on them. “The car is brand new, filled with gas, and ready to go. Take it and leave the house to us for a few days. We’ll cause no damage.”

Alan reaches out for the keys, and Lynell notices his fingernails are short and jagged. She remembers the days when she prayed his nails were short because the longer they were, the more it hurt when he slapped her.

Daniel pulls the keys out of Alan’s reach.

“What are you playing at, boy?” Alan growls.

“You can’t tell anyone you’ve seen us.”

Alan laughs. “Like I’d want to be associated with the likes of you.”

“I mean it, Alan. I’m not afraid of hurting you.” Daniel leans in, causing Lynell to move with him. “And I still have my Registration left. Not saving it for anyone special. If you tell anyone we’re here or if you ever lay another filthy hand on Lynell, I will use it. For you.”

Alan’s eyes narrow before he snags the keys out of Daniel’s hand. “Don’t trash my house.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Alan turns his attention to Lynell. “My dear little Linnie, this is who you left home for? That’s sad, even for you.”

Daniel bristles next to her, but she gives his arm a quick squeeze, trying to communicate to let her speak.

“Don’t call me that,” she says, the words nearly spitting from her mouth. “I’m not yours. I left home because you were sucking the life out of me. Because every day I woke up under your damn roof, every minute I spent here, I wanted to slit my wrists. And yours. I left because you made my life hell and I wanted something more. A life worth living. Daniel found a place in my life but it’s just that—my life. And you will never be a part of it again.”

Daniel rubs her back once and Alan frowns. He takes a step toward her, but she doesn’t move, even when Daniel grips her side again. “Harsh words from a coward coming to me for help.”

“A coward would never willingly return to this hellhole,” she replies.

“Think you ought to be a little nicer to the man with the home you want to use,” he says, leaning close enough for her to smell the beer and cigarette smoke that permanently taint his breath.

“Take the car and leave, Alan,” she says. The effort of standing tall is beginning to take its toll on her.

Alan lifts his hand and pulls a dirty finger across her jaw. She flinches and loses her balance but before she can fall, Daniel grabs her, holds her up, and pushes Alan back with his other hand.

“Go now,” Daniel says. “Or I will kill you right now, Registration be damned.”

Alan doesn’t say anything else. He turns back into the house, grabs a wallet, a beer, and a jacket, and returns to the door where Lynell is holding on to the wall.