He handed the papers to Ryker.

“They are accusing you of kidnapping, and they want the children back immediately.”

My phone buzzed again in my hand.

It was an unknown number.

I swiped the screen to answer, pressing the phone to my ear.

“Evelyn Steel,” a cold, unfamiliar female voice said on the other end.

The white envelope pressed against the camera lens filled the small monitor screen.

Even through the grain of the security feed, the official gold seal of the Cook County Sheriff’s Department was unmistakable.

“They didn’t wait for morning,” Ryker said, his voice dangerously quiet.

He walked over to the wall monitor, his fingers hovering over the intercom button.

“They have the emergency order,” I said, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“Marissa’s lawyers must have found a night judge to sign off on it.”

Marco re-entered the study, his phone pressed to his ear.

He looked at Ryker and gave a sharp shake of his head.

“Our lead counsel is on the line,” Marco said, lowering the phone slightly.

“He says if we refuse to open the gates, they can cite us for contempt immediately.”