“Tell the airport authority we have an active child abandonment in progress.”

“Use our company clearance,” Ryker added, his voice dropping to a dangerous register. “Ground that aircraft now.”

Marco nodded once, already pulling his radio from his suit jacket.

“On it,” Marco said, walking rapidly toward the gate podium.

I took a slow step toward the children, my boots clicking on the polished floor.

The boy, Owen, was crying silently now, burying his face in the dirty fur of his teddy bear.

The girl, Lily, watched the heavy boarding door close completely.

“They look terrified, Ryker,” I whispered.

“We need to get to them before the rest of the terminal notices,” Ryker said.

He walked over to the bench, his long strides commanding the space around him.

I followed close behind, the smell of jet fuel and damp wool hanging in the air.

We stopped a few feet from the blue vinyl seats.

Lily looked up at us, her small fingers tightening around her brother’s wet sleeve.

“Hi there,” I said softly, bending down to their eye level.

Owen pulled the bear closer to his chest, his eyes darting around the crowded terminal.

“Where did your guardian go?” Ryker asked, his tone softening in a way I rarely heard.

“Marissa told us to wait here,” Lily said.

Her voice was steady, but her lower lip trembled.

“She said we don’t live with her anymore.”

My heart ached at the sheer coldness of the child’s words.

Ryker stared at the children, his eyes narrowing as he studied Lily’s features.

He looked down at the small monogrammed silver tag dangling from the boy’s backpack.

The initials *O. V.* were engraved in the metal.

“What is your last name, sweetheart?” I asked.

“Vale,” Lily whispered.

“Our daddy was Arthur Vale.”

Ryker froze beside me, his breath hitching.

Arthur Vale was a name we both knew well.