“Too far,” Rowan said. “Tessa’s security team will have roadblocks on the main route by then.”

He turned his gaze toward me.

“Marcus, take Maren,” Rowan said.

“What?” I said, grabbing his arm. “No. I am not leaving you.”

“You have to,” Rowan said, his voice soft but unyielding.

“The twins are at the safehouse,” he continued. “They need you.”

“And Clara needs both of us,” I said, tears burning my eyes.

“I am going to draw their primary search grid toward the northern ridge,” Rowan explained.

“If they think I have the baby with me there, they will pull their resources away from the highway.”

“You are using yourself as bait,” I said.

“I am keeping our daughter safe,” he said.

He looked down at Clara, then back at me.

“Marcus will take you directly to the secure medical compound,” Rowan said.

“Our team is waiting there with the boys.”

“Dr. Evans is already set up to examine Clara,” Marcus added.

Rowan reached into his tactical pocket and pulled out a small, encrypted key fob.

He pressed it into my hand.