Patricia and Daniel stood near the kitchen, watching us silently.

Patricia’s face was pale with anger.

Just as we reached the front door, Daniel’s phone, lying on the kitchen counter, began to vibrate.

The screen lit up with a bright blue light.

It was an incoming call from a number with a local area code.

Daniel stared at the screen, his eyes widening.

“Don’t answer that,” Patricia whispered.

The phone kept ringing, its vibration buzzing loudly against the granite counter.

“Answer it, Daniel,” General Hayes said.

His voice was low, but it filled the kitchen.

Daniel reached for the phone, his hand shaking.

Patricia stepped in front of him, her shoulder blocking the counter.

“This is family business, General,” she said.

Her fingers clawed at the edge of the granite.

“Morgan is leaving this house tonight,” Patricia said, pointing a sharp finger at me.

“But the child stays here.”

My grip tightened on Emma.

She let out a soft whimpering sound in her sleep.

“Emma comes with me,” I said.

“You have no right to her,” Patricia snapped.

She took a step toward me, her eyes narrowed into thin slits.