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“We’re coming in. Weapons are secured.”

I open the door.

Four tactical officers stand in the corridor.

A woman in a sheriff’s uniform moves past them.

Her gaze takes in the girls.

All fourteen.

Something changes in her face.

“My name is Lieutenant Dawson,” she says. “You’re safe now.”

Lily's fingers tighten around mine.

“Promise?”

Dawson looks directly at her.

“I promise.”

The first sob comes from somewhere behind me.

Then another.

The room fills with crying.

Relief.

Fear.

Shock.

I don’t know where one ends and another begins.

Lieutenant Dawson starts organizing the evacuation.

“Medical teams are waiting outside. Nobody goes anywhere alone. We stay together until every one of you is accounted for.”

Good.

Exactly what they need.

I step aside as the officers begin moving the girls into the corridor.

Jasmine stops beside me.

“You saved us.”

“No.”

She frowns.

“You did.”

“I opened a few doors.”