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“Stay with them until law enforcement reaches you.”

“I will.”

“If anything changes⁠—”

“I’ll handle it.”

His jaw tightens.

I almost smile.

“I’ve been handling things for a long time, Sean.”

Something moves through his eyes.

Questions.

So many questions.

I have just as many.

But this isn’t the time.

“We’ll talk later,” he says.

Later.

Such a simple word.

For eighteen years, Sean and I never had a later.

Now maybe we do.

I nod.

“Go.”

He turns and runs toward the entrance with Taylor.

I watch him disappear.

Then I go back to the girls.

I knock three times against the metal door.

“Jasmine, it’s Hayley.”

The lock turns.

The door opens just far enough for Jasmine to see me.

“You came back.”

“I told you I would.”

She throws the door open.

Fourteen frightened faces turn toward me.