Meredith.
I stood with everyone at the front steps—guards in clean lines, Dennis out front with his hands clasped behind his back, staff fanned across the portico.
Even Wanda was here, looking washed-out and tight-mouthed. Xamira's small fingers were curled around mine, bouncing on her toes.
"Daddy's car?" she whispered like a secret.
"It will be here any minute," I said, even though my pulse had been saying any second for the last ten minutes.
About a minute later, engines finally rolled in from the road—low, heavy, familiar. Headlights swept across the gravel as five black SUVs eased through the gate and up the circular drive.
The air suddenly changed as anticipation crackled through the crowd like static.
The convoy braked and doors clicked. The third SUV opened—and there he was.
Draven stepped out, tall and steady despite the long drive, eyes scanning the line of faces. The instant his gaze found me, something in my chest unclenched.
