That stops him cold.
“It was in her diaper bag,” I say. “Dead. Like someone drained it on purpose. I charged it. The last text was from an unknown number. It just said:You should have given him to us.”
Gavin swears under his breath.
“That’s when I took Aidan and left,” I say. “I didn’t even go back to my apartment. I grabbed clothes, diapers, and ran. I thought if I stayed moving, they couldn’t find us.”
“And they still did,” Gavin says.
I nod. “Someone followed me out of Hanover Falls. I saw the same truck twice. Once at a gas station. Once on the highway. That’s when I headed for Timber Creek instead of the interstate.”
Gavin doesn’t hesitate. “You did the right thing.”
“Did I?” I ask softly. “Because I don’t even knowwhythey want him.”
The door opens quietly, and Sheriff Silas James steps in. He takes one look at Gavin’s face and I know this isn’t good news.
“Hanover Falls,” Gavin says.
Silas nods slowly. “That was my first thought too.”
“You think the cops are in on it?” I ask, my stomach sinking.
Silas rubs his jaw. “I think if someone powerful enough wanted your sister quiet, local law enforcement would be the easiest pressure point. Or the easiest blind spot.”
Gavin and Silas exchange a look that tells me this isn’t speculation.
This is experience.
Silas tips his head. “I’ll dig. Quietly. Badge numbers. Internal complaints. Anything that doesn’t add up.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He gives me a small nod before stepping back out, closing the door behind him.
When he’s gone, the fear creeps back in, cold and sharp.
“What if they’re already here?” I ask. “What if coming to you put everyone in danger?”
Gavin crosses the room in three strides and crouches in front of me, his presence solid and grounding. “Listen to me,” he says. “If someone comes here, they don’t walk away. Not without being seen. Not without being stopped.” His hand settles over mine, warm and steady. “You’re not alone anymore.”
Something inside me gives. I lean forward before I can stop myself, pressing my forehead to his shoulder, breathing him in. Woodsmoke. Clean soap. Safety. “I’m scared,” I admit. “All the time.”
“I know,” he says softly. His hand comes up, resting against my back. “But you’re not running blind anymore. You found us for a reason.”
I pull back just enough to look at him. “You really think you can protect us?”
His eyes don’t waver. “I know I can.”
And the terrifying thing?
I believe him.
Because when Gavin looks at me, he doesn’t see a problem or a liability or a mess to clean up.
He sees something worth fighting for.
And for the first time since Sophie made me promise, the weight of that vow doesn’t feel like it’s crushing me anymore.
