Harper’s arm tightens around Poppi.
Silas gestures to the screen again. “The field office is preparing warrants and tasking. But timing matters. If they think you’re moving, they may move the chain.”
I nod. “We move fast.”
And then Kayley’s voice cuts through the room—steady, shaking, and absolute. “I’m coming.”
Every head turns.
Even Poppi seems to quiet, like the room’s tension reached her too.
Kayley stands, Aidan still against her chest. She looks small beside the table of men, but her spine is straight and her eyes are bright with something fierce.
Guilt. Grief. Rage.
Purpose.
“No,” I say immediately, voice hard. “Absolutely not.”
Chase shakes his head. “Nope.”
Rafe’s expression is firm. “Kayley?—”
Rhett cuts in, blunt. “Negative.”
Eli’s eyes soften, but he’s no less solid. “You can’t.”
Kayley’s jaw tightens. “You don’t get to tell me what I can do.”
My chest flares hot. “I do when it puts you in the line of fire.”
She steps forward. “You want the truth? Here’s the truth: I’ve been running my entire life. I ran when Sophie begged me to. I ran when I saw that text. I ran until my car died and I had nowhere left to go.” Her voice trembles, but she doesn’t stop. “I’m done running.”
My heart twists.
She lifts her chin. “This is for Sophie. For Aidan. For me. I have to look this evil in the face and know I didn’t hide while other people fought for my family.”
“You’re not trained,” Rafe says.
“I’m not helpless,” Kayley snaps.
“You’re a target,” Rhett counters.
Kayley’s eyes flash. “Then teach me what to do.”
Silence hits hard.
Harper stands slowly, Poppi balanced on her shoulder, her gaze gentle but unshakable as she looks at Kayley. “I understand,” Harper says softly. “I do. But if you go, someone has to stay with the babies.”
Kayley’s chest rises and falls fast. “I don’t want to leave him.”
Harper steps closer and places her free hand over Kayley’s forearm—mother to mother, woman to woman. “You won’t be leaving him alone. You’ll be leaving him with me.”
Kayley’s eyes fill. “You’d do that?”
Harper smiles sadly. “We’re a family here. You already felt it. You said you could see yourself living here. Family means I hold what matters to you so you can stand up when you need to.”
Kayley looks down at Aidan, then at Poppi—two babies, same age, both innocent, both depending on the adults in the room not to fail them.
