Lena's POV
A message flashed through on the old burner phone Ezra had kept. One line. Clear enough.
{ Wardens pulling every camera feed from the night of the riot. Looking for his daughter and her friend. Names already flagged.}
I read it twice. The words sat heavy in my chest.
Declan took the phone from my hand and passed it to Ezra. Nobody spoke for a few seconds.
Then Ronan’s voice cut through, quiet and final.
“He’s not getting near them.”
Ezra nodded once.
“We move if we have to. But we don’t hand them over. Not now. Not ever.”
Nico looked straight at me and Sadie.
“You two don’t face him alone. That’s done.”
Sadie’s fingers found mine and squeezed. I squeezed back.
Declan’s hand settled at the back of my neck, warm and steady.
“You’re staying with us. We figure the
