Eric Crown stood close to his wife protectively.
Uncle," Derrick said, stepping into the open. "You don't want to do this."
Senior Marcus looked at his nephew. At his daughter's empty space by the door, she was definitely long gone. At Eric Crown, who had his hand in his jacket, and Katie Goris, who had no weapon but didn't need one.
He had come to take his daughter, she belonged with him. He found a war council instead.
"Where is she?" Marcus asked, his voice raw.
"Safe," Katie said. "And she'll stay that way. But not with you. Not today."
The real question hung in the air: who was Sophie safer with? The father who'd already buried one child, or the family that had turned his daughter against him?
Senior Marcus Lanzo signed his men to stand down. His hands shook, but his voice was steel. "I just want my daughter. Why are you putting her against me?
