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Dark hair sticking up in little clumps. Those wide, confused eyes—not scared, just bewildered by all the sudden activity. Beckett’s strong arms holding her like the precious cargo she was. Safe. Alive. Real.

The keening sound that escaped me didn’t sound human. Every bit of agony I’d been holding back, every tear I’d swallowed, every scream I’d suppressed—it all came pouring out on Lachlan’s kitchen floor.

My baby. My baby girl was coming home.

The phone rang, startling me. Evelyn’s name on the screen.

“Piper? Honey, we heard the operation went well.” Her voice was warm, careful. “Are you okay?”

“She’s safe.” The words came out broken, waterlogged. “Sadie’s safe.”

“Oh, honey. I’m so glad.” I could hear the smile in her voice, the genuine joy. “And before you ask, Caleb’s been perfect. Just went right back down to sleep after his bottle. Little man didn’t want to finish it—kept looking around like he was waiting for someone.”

Fresh tears spilled over. My son, waiting for his sister without even knowing it.

“I’ll be there soon,” I managed. “I need… I need to hold both of them tonight. I’m not sure when Beckett will be bringing Sadie.”

“Of course. Take your time. We’ll be here.”

I ended the call and struggled to my feet, legs still shaky. But that didn’t matter. Both my babies were safe.

The diaper bag sat by the door where I’d left it this morning. A lifetime ago. I grabbed it, checking for supplies even though Emma would have everything Caleb needed. Old habits. I’d need two of everything now. Two sets of bottles. Two?—

The back door opened.

“Lachlan?” I turned quickly. I hadn’t expected him back this quickly. I thought he would have?—

Ray stood in the doorway, gun already drawn.

My body went cold, then hot, then numb. Time slowed to a crawl as my brain tried to process what I was seeing. He looked like hell—clothes rumpled and stained with sweat, hair wild, eyes glittering with the kind of rage I’d learned to fear before I could properly walk.

“You betrayed me.” His voice was deadly quiet, more terrifying than any shout. “They took everything.”

Every survival instinct I’d developed over twenty-seven years kicked in at once.Don’t run—it triggers the predator response.Don’t show fear—he feeds on it.Don’t argue—it escalates his rage.

Just breathe. Think.Survive.

“Ray.” I kept my voice level, hands visible and still. The diaper bag slipped from my fingers. “I thought you’d be?—”

“At the warehouse?” His laugh was broken glass. “I knew something didn’t feel right. I got out as soon as they hit it. Didn’t wait to see if we could overpower them like everyone else.”

“They took her.” He advanced into the kitchen, gun steady despite the tremor in his hands. “They took what’s mine.”

“Sadie was never yours.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

The backhanded slap came fast, snapping my head to the side. Familiar pain bloomed across my cheek. But this time, instead of cowering, I felt something else.

Rage.

“Where did you do it?” Ray demanded, shoving me toward the living room. “Where did you spy on me? Where did you betray your own father?”

His words didn’t even make sense. I hadn’t spiedonhim; I’d spiedforhim. But evidently, Ray was beyond comprehending that.

“Lachlan’s office.” I pointed down the hall, trying to steer him away from the kitchen. Too many knives in there. Too many weapons he could grab if his gun wasn’t enough.

He forced me ahead of him, the gun barrel occasionally touching my spine. In the office, he went wild. Papers flew as he swept them from the desk. The computer monitor shattered when he drove the gun butt through it. Frame after frame of photos—Lachlan’s family, commendations, certificates—destroyed with vicious efficiency.

“Years.” He was ranting now, the controlled facade cracking. “Years of building something. Creating an empire. And you destroyed it all for what? For him?”