“Please,” I say again.
Tempe doesn’t resist this time. She makes room in her arms, balancing Ember on one hip to hold Charlie on her other shoulder.
“The guys will be here soon,” she says, but I can’t tell if she’s reassuring herself or me.
“Not soon enough.”
I’ve seen this before. I know how it goes. My uncle has a way of getting rid of people.
The cars are almost here now. Through the windshield, I spot their sunglasses-covered eyes, watching us as they surround the house.
“Tell Hayes I’m sorry.”
“Emery—”
“Just tell him.” I cut her off, knowing we’re running out of time. “Tell him that Charlie needs him no matter what happens to me. She’s all that matters.”
I can barely finish that sentence. The thought of never seeing Charlie again—of never seeing Hayes again—has bile rising in my throat. But it’s worth it if she’s safe. All of this is worth it if she gets the life she deserves.
Tempe steps forward as I start toward the closest car. “Emery, don’t. I hear motorcycles. They’ll be here any second.”
“And they’ll end up in cuffs if they try to stop this.”
Her shoulders sink because she knows I’m right.
Two Feds climb out of the car. Amusement ghosts their cheeks as they saunter toward us. The taller of the two pulls off his sunglasses at his approach. “Emery Zane?”
“Roman.” I angle my chin up, refusing to let them see me break. “It’s Emery Roman now.”
His eyes narrow. “We have reason to believe that you’re being held against your will. You need to come with us.”
“I’m here because I want to be. No one’s holding me against my will.”
“You can tell that to your uncle. Let’s go.”
The other agent grabs me a little too hard. His fingers pinch my skin, and I nearly trip as he tugs me toward the car. A third agent climbs out of a second car, but he walks straight past me.
“Where are you—”
“Hey!” I hear Tempe yell before I can finish my question.
I turn to see them ripping Charlie from her arms.
“No! You can’t.” I try to pull free, but the agent tightens his grip.
“Get the cuffs.”
“Please.” Tears swell in my eyes as Charlie starts crying. “Don’t do this. Take me. I’ll go with you. But leave her.”
Tempe tries to fight back, even with Ember on her hip. Until an agent steps between her and Charlie, resting his hand on his gun.
Charlie’s screams carry through the desert as I’m dragged to a different car, and when I try to kick free, they throw cuffs on my wrists.
“Where are you taking my daughter?” I demand, but they don’t answer. “You have no right to take her. We’re here by choice.”
An agent grins down at me with his yellow-stained teeth bared. “Like I said, tell that to your uncle.”
At that, he shoves me into the car and slams the door behind me.
