Their Reign (The Rite Trilogy 3)

“A neighbor delivered the package. Douglas is smarter than to come to the house with the presence of the IVI guard. But he is determined.” He opens a drawer, takes a box out, and sets it on the desk.

I stand, open it, and look inside to find the baby doll chopped to pieces and the funeral invitation. My blood turns cold just like it did when she described the contents. “Christ. Did she see this?”

“No, the guard wouldn’t let her.”

“Let me take her home.” He raises an eyebrow, and I know it’s at the word home. I press on. “I can keep her safe. He won’t have access to her in my house.”

“Nor would he in mine. But she doesn’t want that, and I think it’s past time we respect her decisions for a change.”

“This is life or death, Santiago.”

Standing, he comes to put a hand on my shoulder. “Imprisoning her in your house or mine is a different sort of death. And neither you nor I want that for her.”