As soon as they stop in front of the large house, Lynell’s body tenses.

Two guards flank her and Zach when they step out of the car and walk up the white steps. A painful feeling of déjà vu hits her, though this time having Zach at her side is reassuring rather than terrifying.

The female guard passes them and opens the front door. Lynell steps closer to Zach, the heat of his body a talisman to keep her sane. Her hand curls into a fist, expecting to see Eric on the other side of the door. But instead, they’re met with the empty corridor.

“This way,” the female guard says. She leads them down a familiar hallway and into the only room of the house Lynell enjoys.

She steps into the parlor she explored all those days ago. Her eyes cover the room, the chairs, fireplace, and bookshelves. She remembers sitting in here for hours, wondering what it would be like to choose this family and live in a house like this.

She now knows the sacrifice wouldn’t be worth it.

Next, her mind registers the people in the room.

Four guards, two at each door, including the two that lead Zach and Lynell in.

Eric, standing in front of the fireplace.

And sitting in the chair directly in front of Lynell is a terrified woman holding a small child in her lap. Her eyes are smudged with black and her nose is bright red, probably from weeping. Her pale blonde hair is up in a bun and her fingers are curled protectively around the girl she’s holding. The child is gripping a pink blanket with a pig head and holds her thumb securely between her lips.

Anna. Zoe.

Lynell’s face is hot and she steps forward, wanting to run to them.Just as Lynell moves, the largest guard in the room steps forward and Zach grabs her arm. She looks back at him, and he gives a minuscule shake of his head.

“Welcome home, Lynell,” Eric says, his smile splitting his face.

Her lips tremble with the desire to curl into a snarl.

“I’m so glad you could join us,” Eric continues, stepping away from the fireplace. “I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know young Anna here and her adoptive mother, Zoe, is it?” he turns to Zoe, giving her a disgustingly sweet smile.

Zoe just chokes on a sob and looks away from him.

“Anna is a sweetheart,” Eric says, moving closer to Lynell. Zach’s hold on her arm instinctively tightens.

“She’s very talkative, did you know? But, of course, you don’t. You don’t know her at all, do you?”

“Eric, I swear, if you hurt her—”

“She loves it at Uncle Eric’s house,” he says, interrupting her. Lynell steps back, causing Zach to move, too, his arm brushing against her own. “And I was kind enough to allow Zoe to come as well, to keep Anna happy.” Eric turns, facing Zoe and clapping his hands together. “It’s like a nice vacation for mother and daughter, isn’t it, Mrs. Raines?”