I held Luca close, feeding him the bottle Vance had prepared.

Liana lay in the basket beside me, her eyes closed, sucking on her thumb.

I heard Vance whispering in the hallway.

He was speaking in a low, urgent tone.

I stood up quietly, holding Luca, and crept toward the kitchen doorway.

“I have them,” Vance was saying into his phone.

My heart stopped.

“She’s here,” Vance whispered. “She has both of the babies.”

There was a long pause.

“You promised me,” Vance said, his voice cracking. “You promised Sarah and Toby would be safe. If I give you the girl and the kids, you leave my family alone.”

I backed away from the doorway, my breath catching in my throat.

I had to get out of here.

I looked at the kitchen window. It was small, but it led to the fire escape.

I carefully picked up Liana from the basket and held both babies against my chest.

As I moved toward the window, I heard the sound of heavy tires splashing through puddles outside.

Headlights swept across the kitchen ceiling, bright and blinding.