“Uncle Ryker?” Lily whispered. “There were loud noises.”

The anger in Ryker’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, gentle warmth.

He dropped to one knee, holding out his arms.

“Come here, sweetheart,” he said softly.

The two five-year-olds ran across the room, ignoring the tied-up man on the floor, and threw themselves into Ryker’s arms.

He held them tight, burying his face in Lily’s hair.

“Are we safe?” Owen mumbled around his thumb.

“You are completely safe,” Ryker said, his voice thick with emotion. “I promise you. No one is ever going to hurt you again.”

I watched them, a lump forming in my throat.

These children had been abandoned at one of the busiest airports in the world, left with nothing but a note and a backpack.

They had been treated like garbage by the people who were supposed to protect them.

But looking at Ryker, I knew he would burn the city to the ground before he let anyone take them.

“Tessa,” Ryker said, looking up at me over Lily’s shoulder. “Take them down to the secure bedroom. It has no windows.”