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Prologue

“What time are you going to be here?” Danica’s sister questioned through the phone. “Mama’s had one damn margarita too many, and is scuffing up my good floors trying to two-step with Daddy. Both of them are on the verge of getting put the hell out of my damn house.”

“Stop being so mean, Miesh, it’s Christmas.”

“I wouldn’t give a damn if it was the Fourth of July, they ain’t got no business…” Miesha’s voice trailed off as a loud crash sounded off on her end of the phone. Danica cringed in the driver’s seat of her car, bracing herself for her sister to fly off of the handle. Miesha was particular to the highest power. The only reason why she’d even agreed to host their annual family Christmas festivities, was because Danica’s house was unavailable that year due to renovations.

It took weeks for Danica to get Miesha to agree, which she only did under the circumstance that Danica would be responsible for any damage their wild ass family caused to her home. Every year something was broken or destroyed, and it appeared that year would be no different.

“I’m going to kill them,” Miesha growled into the phone. “You’re going to pull up to my house and every single member of our family is going to be dead.”

“Miesh, breathe,” Danica coached, admiring the snowfall that’d just begun. “I promise you that I’m no more than ten minutes out, and I will pay for whatever it is that Cas broke.” She assured her.

“How’d you know it was his ass?” Miesha let out a snicker.

“Because I know our brother.”

The two shared a laugh, and Danica cleared her throat, the wide smile on her face still in place. “I love you, be nice for me and I’ll see you soon.”

“Love you too, sis.”

The two ended their call, and Danica let her phone drop into her lap while coming to a stop at a red light. Inhaling deeply, she slowly expelled the oxygen from her lungs while taking in the sight of her city.

Excitement coursed through her as her eyes landed on row after row of Christmas lights, with a few decorated trees sprinkled here and there. It was her favorite time of the year. Everything about the holiday kept her in good spirits, but more importantly, she appreciated the time that it gave her with her family.

She, her brother, and sister, were all adults with their own lives, and most times, that got in the way of the time they were used to spending with their parents. It was hard trying to balance work and personal time, so Danica reveled in the week and a half break that the holidays afforded her.

Her foot gently tapped the gas when the light turned green, sending her car forward. She’d just barely made it through the intersection when her car felt as if it were hit by a cement wall. A sickening crunch sounded throughout the vehicle, and Danica’s mouth opened wide as she released a shrill scream. Snatching her hands away from the steering wheel, she grabbed for something, anything to hold on to as her car went spiraling onto its side. Flipping once, twice, then three times, the vehicle finally came to a devastating stop in the middle of the street.

Tires screeched as cars swerved to attempt to avoid the accident scene, but the only sound Danica could make out was the thumping of her ears. Blinking slowly, she attempted to clear her cloudy vision.

The reeking scent of blood filled the car, and she could feel the sticky substance trickling down her face. Whimpering softly, Danica racked her brain to try and figure out how to get herself out of the car.

Her hand flew to the seatbelt, but she was filled with despair when realizing that it was jammed.

“H-help,” She rasped, praying that somebody could hear her. “Somebody help me, please!”

A panic that Danica had never experienced in her life coursed throughout her entire body. “HELP ME!” Her voice cracked as she screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Ma’am, can you hear me?” An unfamiliar voice called out, causing her to panic further.

“Get me out!” She flailed, ignoring the shattered glass around her. The smell of fuel invaded her nostrils, and from the movies she’d seen, Danica knew how her scenario was likely to end if she didn’t get the hell out of the car.

“Try and stay calm, we have somebody on the way to help you.”

“Please! Please! Get me out now!”

Danica had lost all sense of herself and everything going on around her. She wanted out of the car, and she wanted it immediately.

“Everybody, clear the area!” A strong voice demanded, sending non accident related shivers through Danica’s spine. Even in the midst of chaos, she fought against the sense of peace that voice threatened to provide. Deep and rich, the undertones of the voice that belonged to whomever was speaking, let her know that somehow, she was going to be okay.

“Sweetheart, can you hear me?” That voice called out again, this time closer. Turning her head a fraction of an inch, Danica winced as a sharp pain darted through her neck, reverting her back to a state of fright.

“Get me out!” She cried, her eyes stinging with tears.

“I’m working on getting you out, okay? I just need you to stay calm, and bear with me for a minute. Can you do that for me?”

Despite her anxiety, she managed to give a shaky nod.