Jersey felt like dro

even think about it to anyone watching. I sat in the middle vehicle, surrounded by men in dark suits who

spond if something went wrong. Far enough that I c

. That was good. That meant no one had breached

r

er said. First words he had s

life was about to change. That we were moving. That the father he had asked

sn't read

ned speeches. Rehearsed explanations. None of the

oms drove minivans and people still left their doors unlocked. It didn't l

as the

d a tire swing in the yard. The SUVs formed a perimeter

ermission. Just ope

d calm competence. He had been special forces before going private,

ng that dinosaur game you got him. I told him we migh

ripped his arm.

flicked to the convoy. "That's

ent k

n darkened. "How

had been home for the past three weeks. Temporary.

oss the carpet, cartoon playing on mute, drawings taped to the walls. And

s

-year-old face. The kind of serious expression that came from a

. Smiled. That smile that m

he controller and la

the scent of his shampoo and the grape juice

sed the top of his

d for my age." He pulled back, looked at me with th

reful you were, they felt the tens

ently. "But this t

erent

ed his hair back from his forehead. Trie

ou always asked

ody went st

ere. And he wan

wide. "Here? Like

ht n

ion was so small. So ho

f both protection and destruction. "He's strong. And he's going to

he wait

. Because I thought keeping you sec

I promise I'll explain everyt

d when he was trying to decide if I was

up his stuffed dinosaur a battere

cour

y draw

of

. Squeezed. "I'

"Me too. But we're going

ka

ts, the few things we couldn't leave behind. He carried the bags to the car whi

I needed

phone to his ear, barking orders in It

ped mid-

w him. Not a file on a screen or a fact in a report, but a livi

s

wly. Ended the call without

closer to me.

him," I

ooks

, baby. He's ju

Controlled. Like he was approaching somethin

et away. Crouched d

was different than I'd ever heard it so

ed Rex tighter. "Ar

a

never met

nd. Something passed between us blame, reg

Trying to make things safe for you and your mo

omi

in the air.

se," Dan

t way that only children can, made

Just his fingertips against Dante's che

eyes as me," Luca

saw his throat work, saw

" he m

ll be tall like yo

oba

ll you Dad? Or do I have to say Father?

l me whateve

it. "Dad, then. F

it

hadn't seen in seven years vulnerability. Raw, un

too late. I

letely. The way fathers lov

as scanning the perimeter, hand near his

ca. "Want to ride with me? I have a

. I nodded, even though every in

and. His small fingers disa

ures, Luca asking questions in that endless six-year-old way

be DNA carried its

my vehicle, but

ri

urn

the back seat. The afternoon sun caught his face, highli

"For bringing him. For

t have a

You chose to let me meet him. You could have run.

to it. This is about ke

ut." He paused. "But

ice piped up from the back seat.

a

lly. Like he'd been sa

oftened in a way I'd

he door closed. The

me in the driver's seat, watching my s

y?" Ghos

alm against the wind

oy. I can see it in

kno

at scared

so didn't just pr

wned

m the one thing I cou

. Text from an

e you. Vincent wants his blood debt paid. And Moret

the message. Hi

to tell

e message. "Once we're

house was a fortress. A cage. A

I would

man I h

oyed. I wasn't sure

o now held

ading back to Manhattan. Back to the l

to

r war was c