CHAPTER 9

"What took you so long?" Bobby walked closer to her, his voice piercing with barely restrained anger. The intensity of his presence seemed to suffocate her in the little space.

Sarah swallowed hard, finding it difficult to speak, her mouth drying out. Even to her own ears, her weak words, "I-I was just washing my hands," wavered.

Bobby's lips curled into a sardonic sneer as his eyes narrowed. “Washing your hands? Was that what you were doing?” With a vice-like grip, he reached out and roughly grabbed her wrist, pulling her in his direction.

Sarah felt a sharp ache shoot through her arm, but she would not show him how weak she was. Confidently meeting his gaze despite the panic bubbling in her gut, she squared her shoulders. Even though her limbs were shaking, she answered, "Yes, that's what I was doing," in a firm voice.