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S loane would need to stay overnight and I intended to stay with her. But, I had to figure out what to do with the kids and Rufus.

Thank fucking god Dawn is one of those weirdos who actually answers her phone whenever anybody calls.

I knew Sloane would be sleeping for the next couple of hours. As much as I didn't want to leave her, I had to take care of the dog, the kids, call Dawn, and call Detective Harlan.

I kissed her forehead, whispered a fevered combination of, "I'm so sorry," and, "I love you," a dozen times into her hair, and left.

As soon as I stepped out of the hospital, I called Harlan. By now, he would have received the hospital notes I'd asked the nurse to fax him.

"Detective," I said, my voice raw.

"Mr. Shaw," Harlan said, grave but steady. "I got the report from the hospital and Charlie's statement. I'm sorry. I am really sorry this happened. "

I swallowed hard. "You told me you had a warrant. That she'd be found. Now my wife's in the hospital with stitches and bruises, and we almost lost the baby."

"I know. I know, and I won't feed you excuses. We've been short-staffed. We didn't prioritize the threat she posed. That was a mistake, and it's mine to own."

"She walked right into the fucking clinic," I said, teeth clenched. "No disguise. No hesitation. That's not someone unraveling. She's intentional. She's escalating."

"You're right," Harlan said. "And that escalation gives us leverage with the judge now. Attempted assault with a deadly weapon, premeditation, violating no-contact orders... we have what we didn't before."

"So what now?" I asked, heading to my truck. "You going to tell me she's disappeared again?"

"She can't stay hidden for long," he said firmly. "We've flagged her ID, plates, everything. There's an interstate warrant, and we're coordinating with surrounding counties."

I exhaled slowly. It didn't help. "She's already done enough damage."

"I know. And saying we're trying isn't enough. So here's what I can say: we've assigned units to watch the clinic and your home. If she shows up again, we'll be there."

I said nothing. My jaw throbbed from clenching.

"Listen… I've got a daughter," Harlan said quietly. "She's a nurse. Pregnant. When I read the report, Levi… it hit hard. I can't undo what happened. But I'll do everything to make sure she can't hurt anybody else."

The sincerity in his voice cut through my anger. "Just find her," I said, voice thick. "Before she finishes what she started."

"We'll stop her. You have my word. "

We hung up, and I climbed into my truck, fists clenched the entire drive back home.

When I stepped through the front door, the day's weight crushed me. My clothes reeked of antiseptic and hospital cold. The house was quiet. Liam peered around the hallway, eyes wide with worry. Violet curled on the couch, clutching her stuffed fox like she already knew something was wrong.

I took a breath and crouched beside them. "Hey," I said gently, my voice breaking.

"Where's Mom?" Violet asked, sitting straighter.

"She's okay," I said quickly, taking her hand. "She's safe, and so is the baby. But something happened today. She got hurt at work."

Liam stiffened, connecting dots. "It was her, wasn't it? Angie."

Fuck, they don't deserve this.

I nodded slowly. "Yeah. She came to the clinic. They didn't recognize her, and before anyone could stop her, she... attacked your mom."

Violet gasped. Liam's jaw tightened, his body rigid. I reached for both of them.

"She was taken to the hospital. The doctors took good care of her. She was unconscious briefly, but she woke up. She's strong and going to be okay." I struggled to keep steady. "The baby's okay too. We are going to be okay."

Violet buried her face against my chest, trembling. I held her tight, stroking her hair. Liam sat beside me, silent but radiating anger. I knew that feeling. It had nowhere to go.

"I don't want her near Mom again," he said quietly.

"She won't be," I promised. "The police know now. The attack gave them what they needed. They'll find her. When they do, she's done. "

Violet looked up, eyes red-rimmed and frightened. "Can we see Mom?"

"Soon, baby girl. She needs rest for now, but she's coming home tomorrow." I kissed her head and stood. "I need to call your Aunt Dawn"

I pulled out my phone, stepped into the kitchen, and called Sloane's sister. It didn't ring twice.

"Levi?" Dawn's voice cut through, sharp with worry. No hello, just alarm.

"I need help," I said, barely holding together. "Sloane will be okay, but she's in the hospital. She was attacked today at the clinic. The baby's okay, but Sloane needs time. Rest. And I need to be with her."

A pause. "Holy goddamn shit," Dawn whispered. I heard movement; a door closing, maybe a bag unzipping. "Sloane didn't even mention she was pregnant. Are you fucking serious, Levi?"

Ah yes, a family of sailors and strong women.

"I know. I didn't know how else to say it." My throat tightened. "I need help with the kids. Just for a while."

But Dawn being Dawn, didn't let me spiral.

"I am on my way," she said as she shifted to logistics. "I'll pack and be there tonight. I'll bring gluten free snacks, Liam's favorite card game and Violet's weird-ass glow-in-the-dark fox demon I won for her at the fair. I've got it covered."

Relief flooded me. "Thank you," I breathed. "Really. Thank you."

"I'll handle the kids," she said firmly. "You focus on Sloane. She needs you… which is a thing I have not said out loud in years, so soak it up, Levi."

A tear slid down my cheek, but I managed a weak laugh. "Soaking. "

"And Levi?" Her voice dropped to her no-nonsense tone.

"If you screw this up again , I will personally make your life a series of unfortunate events, starting with hiding your car keys in jello and ending with something far more serious, unpleasant, and final for you. You smell what I'm stepping in, Levi?"

A choked laugh escaped me. "I smell it, Dawn."

"I love my little sister," she said. "Even when she's wrong. Even when she's stubborn. And she's been both of those things, a lot . But she is everything . You get me?"

"I get you," I said, swallowing hard. "Probably now more than ever."

"Good. Gimme fifteen. Text me hospital details. I need to know where to send the emergency caffeine and sarcasm supply."

I sent Dawn the information and collapsed on the couch. I didn't remember falling asleep, but I remembered when Dawn arrived; a force of nature in a Patagonia vest and mom jeans, sweeping through the door without questions or judgment. Bags in hand, orders ready, voice calm but eyes steel.

Within twenty minutes, Liam was brushing his teeth, Violet was being bribed to sleep, and somehow the dishwasher was running.

I watched her from the hallway like she was a magician. Her presence wrapped the house in a calm it desperately needed. The panic in my lungs finally eased enough to breathe.

"You look like hell," she said, passing me to collect laundry. "Go. Be with my sister. Try not to cry in front of the vending machines again."

Low fucking blow, Dawn.

She was referring to when the kids were born. The Old Me was too embarrassed to be seen crying, because, "Real men don't cry," or whatever macho-bullshit I had always told myself. Yet after both births, I had snuck off to find a secluded place to weep joyful tears in private.

Both times Dawn had found me. She never said anything either time, just pretended that she needed a candy bar at that exact moment.

Convinced Dawn had everything at the house handled, I sped back to the hospital and rushed up to room 317. The world outside was quiet, washed in gray-violet. Sloane slept, her chest rising steadily.

I sat in the hard plastic chair beside her bed, the armrest jabbing my ribs. Every few hours, a nurse checked her vitals, rustling curtains and murmuring politely, startling me awake. Each time, I'd blink toward Sloane, confirming she was still there, that she was okay.

Eventually, she stirred.

Her eyes fluttered open, blinking against the sterile light. I sat up as she turned to me, the smallest smile touching her lips. In her hospital gown, she looked oddly radiant… fragile but resilient.

She whispered, "You look like hell."

Sloane echoed the same words her sister, making me laugh.

"So I've been told," I said with a smile.

She asked about the kids and I put her mind at ease, explaining Dawn had the house under control. I brought her up to speed with my conversation with Detective Harlan and there was a determination that settled over her while I spoke.

A different doctor came by, though she looked no less tired than the one I'd spoken to yesterday. She reiterated to us what the previous doctor said and that Sloane could go home.

Discharge took time; the paperwork, whispered instructions, the nurse side-eyeing me when I asked to carry Sloane to my truck. She refused, and instead rolled Sloane out in a wheelchair while I pulled my truck around .

As we drove home, Sloane stared out the window.

"You okay?" I asked gently.

She nodded without looking at me. "I think so. I'm... absorbing it all. I keep waiting to wake up… like this is still part of a nightmare. But I'm not asleep. This is just life now."

I gripped the steering wheel. "It won't be this way forever. Hell, Sloane, it won't be this way for much longer."

"I don't want to live in fear," she said suddenly. "Not of her. Not of the past. Not of us."

"You won't have to," I said. "They are going to catch her, and we won't have anything to fear from her again." I took a breath before I added, "You are not alone. We do this together, okay?"

She turned to me, something fragile and fierce in her eyes. "Then let's fight for this. You and me. Not for what we used to be, but for whatever comes next."

I reached across and took her hand. "Together," I whispered.