"Okay," I say.
He nods once. Sharp.
The silence stretches.
Then the questions start bubbling up.
"Why are we here?" I ask.
"To keep you away from Ragon," Alex says.
Cold dread sinks. "I have to go back."
"No." Finn doesn't waver. "You don't."
"He has custody—"
"We're working on that."
I look between them. "What?"
"We're trying to keep you from having to go back," Malcolm says. "If you don't want to."
"How? He has legal custody. The registry—"
"Chase is working on it," Alex says.
I go still.
"Chase?"
"Yeah."
"You know Chase?"
Finn nods. "I know him from work. I’ve told you I work there. We've known each other for years."
The pieces start clicking together.
Chase at the gym. The gym that Finn helped me research. Chase who always seemed to know too much. He was investigating my case. He offered to help.
"He's been working on this." My voice sounds distant. "For how long?"
"Months," Alex admits.
Months.
They've been planning this for months.
"Chase is trying to find you a way out," Malcolm says. "If you want it."
"Do you want it?" Finn asks.
I stare at Alex.
His eyes are steady. Waiting.
"I don't know." The words feel pulled out of me. "It's all so much. I can't think right now."
