Sophia’s father had preserved the frightened emails she’d managed to send. They still saw a soldier trained to obey. They forgot I was trained to plan.

Part 2

The front door opened, and Captain Ruiz entered with two military police investigators. Behind them came Detective Harris, a child protective services caseworker, my attorney, Naomi Price, and two paramedics carrying emergency bags.

Eleanor’s face drained. Audrey recovered first. “Lucas, this is insane. You brought police into our family business?”

Detective Harris looked at Sophia’s bruises. “Assault and unlawful imprisonment are police business.”

The paramedics examined Leo. His temperature was 104.3, and he was severely dehydrated. One called for an ambulance while the other clipped an oxygen monitor around his tiny foot.

Sophia gripped my sleeve. “Don’t leave me.”