In his arms

   It was dark and cold in the home that resembled a castle. Hiding in a back room they rarely used for anything other than guests, Lana could hear Danny marching through the house as he searched for her. His steps were heavy and from the slurring of his words, she knew he had been drinking.

  It seemed that more and more frequently he was coming home from his Hollywood parties with an axe to grind. She had barely recovered from his last late night of closed fists and hurtful insults. She didn’t want to be his punching bag tonight, so she hid in silence, listening closely for his every move. 

“Where the fuck are you, you stupid bitch?!” Dan yelled so loudly Lana thought the walls shook. She gasped from the shock of his tone, and instantly regretted it.

“Oh, I hear you now.” His voice grew closer with every word until the bedroom door swung open.

With reddened eyes and a tired look on his