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All seven Iron Ridge Protectors are home.

And Navarro has just given us the first clue to why he refuses to let my daughter go.

16

SAGE

Iwake to voices outside my bedroom.

Men.

More than four.

My eyes fly open.

For one terrified second, I don’t remember where I am.

Then I see the unfamiliar ceiling.

Red Canyon.

Safe house.

Sean.

Hayley.

I sit up and listen.

The voices are low.

Controlled.

Nobody is shouting.

That doesn’t mean they’re safe.

Greg never shouted when he first found me.

He smiled.

He brought food.

He said everything frightened girls wanted to hear.

I slide out of bed and reach for my backpack.

My hand closes around empty air.

I look at the floor.

Nothing.

Then I remember.

Iron Ridge.

I left my backpack there.