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“A safe house,” Sean answers.

“You have a safe house?”

“We have several.”

Of course they do.

“Who knows about it?”

“The seven of us.”

“Seven?”

“There are seven Iron Ridge Protectors. Three are away on a job.”

Hayley looks around.

“So these are the other three?”

Sean nods.

“Taylor Bradley. Arthur Dexter. Will Bennett.”

Sage already met them yesterday.

I haven't.

Taylor gives me a small nod.

Arthur smiles.

Will stays close to Sage.

These men protected my daughter before they knew her.

That matters.

More than they know.

Sean continues.

“No deputies follow us. No one gets the address. We switch vehicles before we go there.”

I stare at him.

“You've thought about this.”

“It's what we do.”

Something about those four words settles me.

For the first time since I found Sage's photograph, I am surrounded by people who know how to protect someone.

Not investigate.

Not promise.

Protect.