“Ensure she is brought up first.”

He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his coat pocket.

He looked at me, then down at the twins.

“Take them into the lounge, Clara,” he said.

“I am coming with you,” I said.

“They need to see that she cannot hurt them anymore.”

Lily’s small fingers tightened around my wrist.

Owen kept his face buried in the gray fur of his stuffed bear, his shoulders shaking.

“Marco,” Ryker said, not turning his head.

“Secure the perimeter of the lounge.”

“Keep two men at the door.”

“Yes, sir,” Marco said.

I guided the twins into the quiet, carpeted sanctuary of the private terminal lounge.

The room smelled of polished mahogany and expensive leather.

I knelt down in front of Lily and Owen, matching their height.

“I need to step outside for just a moment,” I whispered.

“Sarah is going to bring you some warm milk and cookies.”

I pointed to the kind-faced woman standing behind the marble counter.

Lily looked at the woman, then back at me.

“Will you come back?” she asked.