She paused, and when she spoke again, there was something almost kind in her voice—which made it worse.
"I have nothing against the McKinleys, you know. They seem like good people. So, why don't you all head back to Dominion Hall, let those nice folks tend to their flowers, and we'll settle this like adults."
The fact that she knew about Joy's family—knew their names, knew what they did, knew enough to mention it casually like a threat wrapped in silk—made my skin crawl.
The call ended.
Silence settled heavy over the yard.
Dad pocketed his phone, his expression unreadable. "I'll go alone."
"No," Joy said immediately.
Everyone turned to look at her.
She stepped forward, chin up, eyes fierce. "No way. I'm going. And so is Micah."
Her hand gripped mine hard, punctuating the point.
Dad opened his mouth to argue.
Joy cut him off. "This isn't negotiable. She asked for me, specifically. If I don't go, there's no meeting. And if there's no meeting, she'll just keep coming. For me. For my family. For all of us."
She looked at me then, and I saw it—the fear, yes, but also the resolve.
"I'm going," she said again.
I wanted to argue. Wanted to lock her in a room somewhere safe and deal with Victoria myself.
But I knew that look.
She'd already decided.
"Okay," Dad said finally, voice heavy. "For now, let's go home."
The goodbyes were quick.
Joy's momma pulled her into a tight hug, whispering something I couldn't hear. Her daddy shook my hand, his grip firm, his eyes measuring.
"You bring her back," he said quietly.
"I will," I promised.
Sunny pressed his nose into Joy's palm one last time before we boarded the helicopter, and I saw her blink hard against tears she wouldn't let fall.
The flight back to Dominion Hall was quiet.
No one spoke. No one joked. We just sat there in the leather seats with the city sprawling below us, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
I kept replaying Victoria's voice. The way she'd said Joy's name. The casual mention of the McKinleys.
She knew too much.
And that meant we were already playing catch-up.
When we landed at Dominion Hall, Silas was waiting on the lawn, arms folded, expression grim.
"Everyone's on standby," he said as we disembarked. "I've already sent men to the McKinley farm. They'll keep watch. Make sure no one gets close."
