Mama, please know no one here is pressuring you to do anything. These are questions for you to ask to yourself. Only you know what you are ready and prepared for. You may want to speak to an attorney before you go any further one way or another to know the ramifications of what happens next in dealing with CPS.
I completely understand feeling intimitaded by him, I was by my X too.
We all only want what is best for you and your children. As someone said on another thread, we are behind you, but it's you that has to do the work. So that has to be done in your time and on your terms.
Many, many hugs.