I moved towards her. “Here you go.” I reached out a hand, but she didn’t take. Lyla’s lip began to tremble, and tears welled in her eyes. I crouched low. “Did you hurt yourself?” She shook her head as the tears spilled over. “Scared you?” She nodded. “Happens to me all the time. The wind got knocked out of you. I’ve got you.”

I reached out both hands to help her up. But instead of taking them, she launched herself at me and broke into sobs. Shit. I rubbed a hand up and down her back as I lifted her.

“I-I want my mom.”

The tremble and pain in her voice nearly brought me to my knees. “I know you do. I’d give anything for you to have her right now.” I would’ve traded places with Chelsea Foley in a heartbeat if it meant this little girl wouldn’t be hurting.

Justin jogged over, a panicked look in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kick it so hard.”

I squeezed his shoulder, balancing a crying Lyla in my other arm. “Not your fault. It’s a hard day.”

Justin bit his lip and nodded, but his eyes were red.

“Let’s go find your aunt.”

Cain waved us off. “I’ve got this. Take all the time you need.”

We headed for Anna’s office, Lyla in my arms and Justin at my side. As the girl’s little body shook against mine, and Justin fought back tears, I knew down to my bones that I’d do whatever it took to keep these kids safe.

7

ANNA

I heard the tears before I saw them—the sounds of Lyla’s broken sobs echoing through the hallway. I pushed to my feet, my desk chair slamming into the wall. I met them at the entrance to my office, Lyla wrapped in Mason’s arms and Justin trailing behind, looking worried.

“What happened? Is she okay? Was she hurt?” Oh, God, my first day with the kids truly in my care alone, and something bad had happened.

“I want Mom!” Lyla hurled herself from Mason to me.

I caught her with an oomph, and Mason’s hands went to my shoulders, steadying me. “Oh, Lyla.” Tears burned the backs of my eyes, but I shoved them down. Lyla and Justin didn’t need me losing it right now.

“I’m s-sorry,” she said between hiccupped sobs.

“You never have to be sorry for saying how you feel. You should always let that out.” These kids would never be forced to toe some invisible line, never free to truly live.

“I want her back.”