I could barely comprehend what Detective Johnson was saying. I tried my best to answer what she asked. No, I didn’t know what Chelsea had been doing in Vegas. Yes, I had her children with me. I told her that she was in the process of moving from Portland to Sutter Lake. My eyes burned as I remembered how happy she’d been the day we registered the kids for school next year. How happy I’d been that I was getting a fresh start with the only family I had left.

The click of a pen sounded over the line. “I think that’s everything. You have my number if you need anything. I’ve left a message for your parents, but if you’d like to call them instead—”

Her words cut off in my mind. Just the mention of them sent me hurtling back. I could feel the sting of a slap. The loss of air when an especially vicious punch landed just below my ribs. The physical scars of my father’s anger had long since faded, but the emotional scars would never leave.

Mason seemed to understand that I was losing it and pulled the phone from my grasp. “This is Mason Decker. I’m a friend of Anna’s. She’s understandably upset right now. Can we call you back?”

There was a pause.

“Thank you. We’ll be in touch.”

He hung up and set the phone down on the kitchen table. Without a word, he pulled me up and into his arms. I didn’t resist. I simply held on. As if gripping his t-shirt and feeling his strong arms around me could solve all of my problems.

“I’m so sorry, Anna.”

I wanted to break then. So badly wanted to let the sob tear out of my chest and cut through the air. To scream and rage. But I swallowed it all down. My pain didn’t matter. There were kids in the other room who would be destroyed by this.

But that wasn’t what scared me the most. What terrified me down to my bones was that my parents could get their hands on Lyla and Justin. I couldn’t let that happen. Refused. Those little ones who held my whole heart would not be subjected to what I had been growing up. I’d do whatever I had to do to protect them. Even if that meant running.

4

MASON