While Dominic made the call, I went to check on Phoenix. He was sleeping peacefully in his crib, his tiny chest rising and falling with each breath. I watched him, my heart aching with a fierce, protective love. I would do anything to keep him safe, to keep this darkness from touching him. I knew deep down Valerie was worried about his safety, but she has nothing to worry about.
I felt Dominic's arms wrap around me from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. "He's so small," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "So vulnerable."
"That's why we have to end this," I said, my voice firm. "Once and for all."
The next morning, Dominic had the files. They were old, digitized versions of the original reports, the text faded in some places. But there it was. A photo of the missing woma
