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All that matters is bringing her home.

We leave Deputy Martin with the property while his partner follows the vehicle transporting the prisoners. Martin is young, but he listens carefully when I explain that Sage is the intended target.

“I’ll secure the house and monitor the gate,” he promises.

Sage stops beside him. “Don’t let anyone take my backpack.”

Martin looks at the worn bag sitting beside the table.

“I won’t.”

“The letters inside are all I have left.”

“I understand.”

She hesitates, then follows us outside.

We take two vehicles. Arthur drives the lead truck with Taylor beside him. Sage sits in the rear seat of the armored SUV with Will, and I drive.

She leans forward between the seats as soon as we reach the highway.

“Did she sound hurt?”

“I don’t know.”

“Was she scared?”

“She was running.”

“From them?”

“Yes.”

“How did she know the Iron Ridge number?”

“She must have found the business.”

“Why didn’t she call before tonight?”

I grip the wheel.

“Maybe she only found me recently.”

“Or maybe she was afraid you didn’t want to hear from her.”

The words hit too close to the fear I carried for years.

“Why would she think that?”

“She was sixteen when her parents took everything away from her. Maybe they made her believe you left because of the baby.”

“I didn’t know about the baby.”

“She didn’t know that you searched for her.”

I glance at Sage in the mirror.

Despite everything she has endured, she can still look at her mother’s story and understand the frightened girl inside it.