“No,” I said, keeping my voice steady and warm.

“My brother Ryker has big gates, and nobody can come in without his permission.”

Owen squeezed his bear tighter.

“She said we were bad,” he said.

“She said that’s why Daddy went away.”

I felt a cold wave of anger toward Marissa.

“That is not true,” I said.

“Your daddy loved you very much, and you are very good children.”

I stayed with them for an hour, reading a story until their eyes grew heavy.

Eventually, Owen drifted off, his head resting against the arm of the sofa.

Lily fell asleep shortly after, her tiny hand still holding her brother’s shirt.

I carefully pulled a blanket over them and crept out of the room.

Downstairs, the house felt cold.

I found Ryker in the kitchen, staring at a mug of black coffee.

The rain was still hammering against the windowpane.

“They are asleep,” I said, sitting opposite him.

He did not look up.

“Hannah Brooks called while you were upstairs,” he said.

My breath caught.

“And?”

“She received an anonymous tip,” Ryker said.