“Get out. And do not ever use that key again.”

Madison let out a wail and reached for him, but Officer Daniels smoothly stepped into her path, hand resting casually on his radio. “Let’s go pack, ma’am.

Quickly.”

The packing took eighteen minutes. Vince worked in the background, the hum of his drill a steady rhythm of closure as he installed heavy-duty, pick-resistant deadbolts on every exterior door.

Evan carried the suitcases out to their leased SUV and didn’t look back. Madison dragged her blue overnight bag — the one supposedly holding her protein pancake mix — across the threshold.

She paused at the door, looking back at Robert, waiting for the final rescue. Waiting for him to cave.