Will’s face flushed. “I get it from my big sister.”

I pointed a finger at him. “Don’t you make me cry.”

“Oh, geez,” he said, rolling his eyes.

My phone beeped, and I slid it from my pocket. An alert. The security system. My heartbeat picked up speed. It was a deer. It had to be. Or maybe Griffin had accidentally set off a sensor when he returned. I tapped a couple of icons on my phone.

“What is it?” Will asked, moving in close.

A camera view pulled up, and I caught just a flash of movement. A figure running out of frame. “Girls! Inside, now.”

They both froze at my tone. But Luci, oblivious to it, kept right on bounding away towards the forest. Will grabbed my phone from my hand and pressed a button. “I sent the alert to the sheriff.”

I ran to the girls. “Come on, hurry.”

“Wait,” Mia cried. “Luci.”

“We’ll get her later. She’ll be fine.” I prayed I was right. Whoever was here could care less about a cat. We were who they wanted to harm.

“No!” Mia tore from my grip and ran towards the woods where Luci had disappeared.

Panic swept over me, sharp and fierce. I pushed Ava to Will. “Take her inside to the panic room. You remember the code, right?”

“You go with Ava,” he argued. “I’ll find Mia and Luci.”

“No. Will, I need you to do this. Please.”

He nodded slowly, handing me back my phone. “Be careful. Stay in the woods until we call you with the all-clear.”

“We will.”

He was so smart, my brother. Because once I found Mia, we wouldn’t be able to make it safely back to the house. Not with someone prowling the property. I ran towards the tree line and the sound of footsteps against the forest floor.

“Mia,” I hissed, but she kept right on running. Finally, I caught up with her with a squirming Luci in her arms. “Mia, come here.”

Her face was red and splotchy. “I’m sorry, Cae Cae, but I couldn’t leave Luci.”

My stomach twisted. My sweet girl. I pulled her and the cat into my arms. “It’s okay. We’re going to be okay, but we have to be very quiet. I’m going to find us a place to hide.”

Mia nodded, clutching Luci tighter to her chest. I led them farther away from the farmhouse, constantly scanning the surrounding trees for any sign of movement, my ears primed for any hint of noise. There weren’t any buildings out here, no place to truly hide. Only trees and the pond.

“Caelyn,” a man called. “I know you’re out here. That little girl, too. If you come out, I won’t hurt the girl.”

The voice was so familiar, but I couldn’t place it. It sure as hell didn’t sound like my father.