43

CASSY

The Omega kids huddled around Morna as she guided them through the new phonics system I'd purchased.

Their little faces were intent, their eyes moving in rhythm with the sounds she mouthed, their lips barely keeping up. I stood at the door, taking in the scene, its innocence, the small triumphs and struggles etched in their faces as they navigated the world of words.

But something was off.

Marilee wasn't among them.

I couldn't help the eye roll. Marilee had been so eager to learn, so full of energy and curiosity. Where was she?

I had a pretty good guess where she'd be.

With Phin likely standing over her somewhere. That man was a force of nature, barreling through fatherhood like a runaway train, desperate to protect his little girl from every imaginable and unimaginable threat. I loved him, but damn it, sometimes he overdid it.

Marilee needed to be nine. She needed to be with kids her age, learning and growing. Not locked up in a room, sheltered from the world because Ph