I held my newborn when my uncle saw the marks on my neck—then removed his hearing aids, and my husband realized too late who he was really dealing with.

pressed the hidden seam behind its ear.

A small red light blinked.

For the first time since I married him, Derek went completely still.

Uncle Ray calmly replaced one hearing aid.

“Go ahead,” he said quietly. “Repeat the part about being in charge.”

Derek stared at me. “You recorded me?”

“For months,” I said.

His father lunged toward me, but Uncle Ray stepped continue reading …