Page 156 of Wicked Brutal

“Looks like students surrender devices during orientation.” Becca reads farther. “Outside contact is restricted during the adjustment period. Family-approved contacts.”

She looks up. “This isn’t school. He wants me somewhere I don’t know anyone. Somewhere none of you can just come get me. Somewhere he controls who I talk to.” Her eyes drop to the screen. “And he leaves Tobias here.”

There it is. The leash. Always the fucking leash.

I crouch in front of her. “Look at me, baby. We know now.”

Her eyes fill. “That doesn’t stop him.”

“No. But yesterday we didn’t know this plan existed. Roman did.” I point at the phone. “Today we have every fucking page.”

Becca nods. “And your dad doesn’t know that.”

I open the group chat.

confirmed. transfer is ally.

boarding school.

switzerland.

The responses explode.

Kaid: What?

X: call me.

Danny: SWITZERLAND?

Cat: Ryan, are you serious?

Iz: what the fuck

Penny: oh my god

I send the pages showing the school.

don’t call. don’t move. roman does not know we know.

Kaid: Understood.

X: what do you need

Same question Kaid asked. Same answer I always fucking love them for. Not are you okay? Not what happens now? What do you need?

I look at Ally. Her fingers are still resting protectively over our baby. “Arthur.”

She looks at me. “What?”

“We need Arthur.”

Becca nods. “And Walter.”

“All the dads.”

Ally’s eyes widen slightly. “Ryan—“

“Roman just created documentation that he’s planning to remove you from the country.” I hold her gaze. “We’re not sitting on that.”