She stands slowly, August tucked against her side, her eyes on mine. She is terrified. She is angry. She is asking me not to become another man making decisions over her head.
I hear her without words.
I set the note on the table.
Then I crouch in front of August, holding the dinosaur box but not offering it.
“Kid.”
His eyes are wet. “Can I have it?”
Every answer is wrong.
I choose the one that doesn’t lie.
“Not yet. Wildcat’s got to make sure it’s safe.”
“Because Daddy sent it?”
“Because somebody did.”
“Daddy knows dinosaurs.”
Amelia flinches.
I keep my voice steady even though I want to tear the world in half. “Maybe. But you know what Blue Rex says about surprise evidence.”
August sniffles. “Check it before court.”
“That’s right.”
He nods slowly.
Trusting me.
Damn it.
I look up at Amelia.
Her hand is over her mouth.
I stand.
Oaks’s voice is low. “Prez needs to know.”
“Yeah.”
Wildcat holds up his phone. “Already called.”
Good.
Because if I called Legend right now, my voice might start a war before we have a name to shoot.
Amelia whispers, “I left today.”
I turn to her.
“I left, and he found us.”