Chapter 27 · The Leader at the Door

Derek's standing twenty feet away. Maybe less. The depot's emergency light throws half his face into shadow. Blood's dried black down his collar. He's not limping anymore.

I shift Wren higher on my hip. She's still out. Her breath's warm against my neck.

Cole's on the ground behind me. Unconscious. The black lines are still there but they've stopped crawling.

"You ran a long way," Derek says. His voice is calm. Like we're having coffee. "Longer than I expected."

I don't answer. My back's against the loading dock wall. There's one exit. He's between me and it.

"I'm not here to hurt you, Ivy." He takes a step forward. His boots scrape concrete. "I'm here for my son."

My son.

He thinks Wren's a boy. Rena's records said male. The ultrasound I never saw. The fake report she filed to buy me time.

I keep my mouth shut.

"You look tired," he says. Still calm. Still walking. "How long did you think you could keep him from me?"

"Long enough." My voice comes out steadier than I feel.

Derek stops. His head tilts. "Long enough for what? To raise him in a slum?