Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

“You don’t speak to him, and you are never allowed back
at this house,” he growls. “If Mom brings you, you tell me. Do
you understand?”
“But I want her to come back,” Damon says. “Please.”
“What did we do?” I ask my dad.
He just ignores me, flexing his jaw and squeezing my hand
as he yanks me toward the door.
I look back at Damon but stumble when Dad nudges me
toward the hole in the floor. I spin back around, looking down
to the ground far below and shake my head. My knees shake,
and I feel like I’m going to pee my pants.
“I’m scared,” I start to cry.
I can’t see the steps going down like I could coming up.
“Now!” he snaps.
I jump.
Shaking and tears streaming, I crouch down by the hole,
knowing I’m going to slip. My foot will slip. I know it. I won’t
be able to see the steps underneath me.
But Damon rushes over and takes my hand, pulling me
away from the hole and putting himself in front of me again.
“Leave her alone!” he fights. “I’ll help her! I’ll do it!”
My father charges for him, Damon steps back, digging into
my foot, and I cry out.
“Just get out of here!” Damon yells. “I’ll bring her
down!”
He backs up more, scared, and I’m stumbling, step after
step, and we’re falling back, and I can’t catch myself.
“You little shit…” my dad growls.
“Just leave her alone!” Damon cries out.
I look back, see us heading straight for the railing, and
he’s not paying attention.
“Damon!” I beg.