Free Something's Gotta Give (Tempered Steel Book 3) by Maggie Adams Page A

firmly pointing at her. Her breath caught. What the hell was going on? Although Trudy had always been as vicious as Rochelle, Georgia had never held any ill will against the homely woman. It was obvious Trudy was only doing Rochelle’s bidding when she had been so mean to Georgia.
    “You’ve made Rochelle cry and I can’t have that. Rochelle wants Chance. You need to go away.” Trudy jabbed the knife toward Georgia as she advanced and Georgia retreated until she hit the wall.
    “I don’t understand. Chance is just helping me. He could leave any time.  Put the knife down and we can talk.” Georgia inched toward the front door, hoping Trudy would follow. She had to get her away from the children. Then she would figure out how to get away from her.
    “You don’t have to do this, Trudy. Does Rochelle know you’re here?” Georgia prayed that Rochelle wasn’t hiding somewhere. She didn’t know how she’d get two crazy women out of the house without alerting the children.
    “Don’t you say her name! You are not allowed to say her name! You have always been bad for Rochelle.” Trudy shouted. She shook the knife at Georgia. Her wild eyes gave Georgia little hope of getting away.
    Georgia took hope in Trudy’s rant. Obviously, Rochelle was unaware of what her trusty sidekick was doing. Just a few more inches, Georgia slid closer to the door.  She didn’t remember if it was locked or unlocked, but she couldn’t stand by knowing that this crazy woman had a knife near her little ones. She tried to look to the side to see the lock. Just a few more inches.
    “Why couldn’t you leave Chance alone?” Trudy whined. “Chance is for Rochelle. Now I have to get rid of you. I’m sorry, but you have to go.”
    “I know you like Rochelle, but you do not have to do this. If she wants Chance, she can have him. You do not have to hurt me or anyone.” Georgia’s back hit the door.
    “I love Rochelle!” Trudy screeched. “And she loves me. She tells me. She says that Chance will love me, too. When he sees us together, he will be so happy.” Trudy began to pace but continued to wave the knife at Georgia’s body. She shook her head. “I know Reverend Pyle says it’s wrong, that it’s a sin. But Rochelle makes me feel good, and I make her feel good. She tells me. She loves me, too. She just needs a man. That’s all. It’s not a sin. It’s love.” Trudy started to cry. She regarded Georgia with evil eyes. “But you’re in the way.”
    Georgia frantically tried to twist the knob on the front door. With a sinking heart, she realized it was locked. How was she going to get out of this? Chance and Missy Dee would find her when they got back from the store. Oh God, the kids would find her before then . She had to get out of here. She couldn’t let the little ones see her dead in a pool of blood. “Trudy, please, let’s do this outside. You don’t want to hurt the kids.”
    Trudy cocked her head to the side and looked at her. “I’m not going to hurt the kids. I just need you to go away.” Georgia heard a slight movement in the hall and Trudy whirled around, the knife facing the unknown noise. Georgia flung herself at Trudy with all of her might, knocking both of them to the floor. Georgia cracked her head on the coffee table, momentarily stunning herself. Trudy wiggled from her grasp, reaching for the knife, where it had dropped a few feet away.
    Georgia knew she couldn’t reach it in time to save herself. She closed her eyes and started to pray that God would be merciful and the children would sleep through the sound of her being murdered.
    Whack!
    With a screech, Trudy fell on top of Georgia, the knife skittering as it hit the floor. Georgia pushed the crazy woman off her, as blood dripped down her arm. Trudy was knocked out, a vicious slash across the back of her head. Georgia looked up to see Caleb, with the baseball bat, shaking, but holding it in a firm grip. The other boys were hanging on the door frame,