He still did not know that his mother had borrowed that same money from a private lender I controlled.

I led the girls inside and directed them to their bedrooms.

I helped Ruby brush her teeth and tucked her under her pink floral duvet.

“Can we stay here tomorrow?” she asked, her eyes half-closed.

“Yes, my love,” I said, kissing her forehead. “You will be safe here.”

I went into Hazel’s room next.

She was lying on her back, staring at the ceiling.

“Grandma said we don’t have any money because of you,” Hazel said.

The words stung, but I kept my face calm.

“Your grandmother does not know everything, Hazel,” I said gently. “Sleep now.”

I kissed her cheek and pulled her door closed, leaving it cracked open so a sliver of light could enter.

I walked down the hallway to my small home office at the back of the house.

The room was modest, containing only a wooden desk, a single chair, and a locked filing cabinet.

I unlocked the bottom drawer and pulled out my personal laptop.