He stopped, his hand outstretched.

“Elena, my mother has no limits,” he said, his voice urgent.

“If she knows Hale was talking to us, she will come after you next to secure Lucia.”

“I have a safe house in upstate New York.”

“Marco can have a car ready in ten minutes.”

I let go of the chair and stood up straight.

“I am not running, Dominic.”

“You don’t understand the danger,” he said, stepping closer until I could smell the faint scent of rain and cedar on his wool coat.

“I understand it perfectly,” I said, looking him dead in the eye.

“I have spent five years running from your family.”

“I have changed names, lived in drafty apartments, and looked over my shoulder every time I took our daughter to the park.”

“I am done.”

Marco didn’t look up from his screen, but his shoulders tense.

“Elena, please,” Dominic pleaded, his hand finally resting on my arm.

His palm was warm, but I pulled away.

“Listen to me,” I said.

“If I get in that car tonight, I will never stop running.”