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I rattled off my new number and hung up without a goodbye.

That had been two days ago, and I hadn’t heard back from him. It had been nine days since I left Oklahoma City, and seven days since I had gotten the last note.

Moving back into the main room showed me Dani was still sleeping. Since we had been on the road, she hadn’t had any nightmares. If Danny and Dante made it back to her, I would encourage them to continue co-sleeping until she felt comfortable enough to be alone again.

Having gone a week with no note, I considered my original plan to disappear with Dani. There was no one in my life who would miss me enough to warrant sharing my plans.

My friends were more like acquaintances. People I met with two or three times a month to catch up on our lives and spend an hour or so trying to one up each other with our accomplishments.

My brother hadn’t bothered to tell me he moved away five fucking years ago and further got on with his life without me. I didn’t owe him the courtesy of sharing my plans with him.

The only one I really had was Haizley, and I could talk to her from anywhere. I had texted her my new number, explaining I had lost my phone. Yes, it was a lie. But it couldn’t be helped. Eventually, I would need to tell her about Dani, but I would simply explain I had chosen to adopt.

With no prospects of men on the horizon, adoption made sense. She knew I wanted children one day. I would just invent a story close to the truth about how Dani landed in my lap through my work and I made the decision to be there for her.

Dani woke up with a smile and we got dressed to leave. Decision made, we would once again set off and look for a home. We had only been traveling for less than two weeks. And that had all been in the south.

Maybe heading north would give us an idea of where we could settle down. I grabbed the duffle bag we brought in with us—as there was no sense in bringing all our bags inside each hotel every night—and walked to the office to turn in our key and check out.

When we reached the car, the bag I held in my hand dropped to the ground and my shoulders sagged.

Why now?

Why today?

What had taken whoever this person was so long in between contact? The only answer I could come up with was the way we were zigzagging around.

I placed Dani in her seat and closed the door. Standing by the side of the hood, I contemplated ignoring the note. Every nerve in my body told me to get into the car and drive off. Let the windshield wipers blow it away along the highway.

If I was alone that was exactly what I would do.

However, if I was alone, these notes wouldn’t be here.

I looked at the little girl who had been left in my care. The innocent child I had been trusted to protect.

Reaching over and taking the note, I studied my surroundings for anything out of place. Anyone that might be watching a little too long.

Satisfied no one would jump out of the shadows, I opened the note and read what it said.

She’s mine.

February 19, 2025, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Three days later, we were once again leaving the hotel when I found another fucking note. Frightened was not the emotion I was feeling right then. Anger pulsed through me at the games this person was playing.

Snatching the note from the windshield, I read the words that didn’t make sense.

You stole her from me!

My breath came out heavy as I stared at the words on the paper.

I didn’t fucking steal anyone.

Not for the first time had I considered my earlier assessment. That maybe the notes were from Dante. But if he wanted her back, why wouldn’t he just come to me?

Could they be from Danny? Did something happen to Dante and now Danny was chasing me all over the freaking country trying to scare me into... what? Giving her back?

I wasn’t keeping her from either of them. I was doing what they’d asked me to do. Once Dani and I were in the car, I took a deep breath and tried to think rationally.