“Of course not,” he said, his eyes darkening.

“If child services finds out I took them out of the county, they will charge me with interference.”

“I could lose custody before the hearing even begins.”

“But we couldn’t leave them in Chicago,” I said, rubbing my arms to stay warm.

“Marissa’s lawyers were already filing for an emergency injunction to take them back.”

Ryker nodded, his knuckles turning white against the counter.

“I know,” he said.

“That is why I brought them to your country home.”

“No one knows I have access to this place except you and Marco.”

“It is not in my name, but the paper trail is thin.”

“If they dig deep enough, they will find the holding company.”

“We need to buy ourselves at least forty-eight hours,” he added.

Marco walked into the kitchen, wiping soot from his hands with a rag.

“The furnace is lit, boss,” Marco said.

“It will take an hour to heat this place up, but the pipes won’t freeze.”

“Good,” Ryker said.

“Did you sweep the perimeter?”

“Nothing but snow and deer tracks,” Marco replied.