Evelyn watched his face instead of his hands.

When his knuckles brushed the bare curve above her hip, her breath caught.

Silas released the strap immediately.

"Pain?"

"No."

The single word changed the air between them.

Ronan became deeply interested in adjusting his oxygen tubing. Maeve turned away with the expression of a sister storing material for later cruelty.

Evelyn fastened the last strap herself.

"It fits."

Silas's voice came out lower than intended. "Yes."

Sophie applied another silver star to his hand. "Mommy armor."

"Mommy armor," he agreed.

The moment ended, but the warmth of Evelyn's waist remained against his knuckles.

The first ambulance departed at ten twenty-two.

On Bishop's feed, Mercer examined its paperwork and waved it through. A cruiser followed at a distance.

"One hook set," Ronan said.

The second ambulance rolled into the bay four minutes later.

Mercer opened the rear doors himself.

Ronan lay beneath two blankets, wearing a cervical collar, oxygen mask, and a knitted cap Maeve had found in lost property. The cap was bright pink and read GRANDMA'S LITTLE MIRACLE.

Mercer leaned inside.

Ronan opened his eyes weakly. "Daddy?"

Silas heard Maeve choke over the radio.

Mercer ripped down the mask.

"You."

"The resemblance is stronger from this angle."

"Get out of the vehicle."

Miriam stepped between them. "My client is experiencing acute police intolerance. Movement may worsen his condition."

"He is not a patient."

Ronan coughed delicately. "The emotional wounds are invisible."

Phones rose among the nurses watching from the bay.

Mercer realized he was becoming another clip.

He slammed the doors and ordered the ambulance released.

Ronan's laughter burst over the radio before the vehicle cleared the gate.

"Second hook," Bishop said.

The third ambulance arrived.

Silas mounted his replacement Harley. The silver star on his knuckle flashed beneath the parking lights. Around him, engines came alive one after another, filling the concrete bay with thunder.

Mercer stared at twelve motorcycles and smiled.

He believed he had found the real target.

Grant appeared beside him in plain clothes. He should not have been participating in any operation involving his wife or daughter, but rules had always become flexible when he wore concern on his face.

His gaze fixed on Silas.

"Where is she?"

"In a building you no longer control."

"You think this makes you her hero?"

"No."

"She'll wake up eventually. Women like Evelyn always come home when the excitement ends."

Silas's wolf pressed against his bones.

He pictured Grant's mouth filling with blood. He pictured Evelyn's hand on the hospital blanket, steady even while afraid.

Watch what I do.

Silas smiled instead.

"Then why did you bring six officers to stop her leaving?"

The nurses heard.

So did the phones.

Grant's face tightened.

Mercer stepped between them. "Open the ambulance."

Briar held up the transfer authorization. "Patient privacy. You have no warrant for the vehicle."

"Probable cause."

"Based on what? Motorcycles?"

Ronan's voice came through the radio. "Careful. Those are known gateway vehicles."

Mercer looked around for him before remembering the second ambulance had already gone.

Silas almost enjoyed that.

Grant leaned close to Mercer and whispered.

Mercer allowed the third ambulance to leave.

That worried Silas more than a forced search would have.

The convoy rolled onto Mountain Road with the ambulance in the center. Two county vehicles led. Reapers filled both lanes behind it, chrome and black leather reflecting the wet morning.

For the first mile, no one followed.

For the second, a gray sedan appeared three vehicles back.

At the third mile marker, the county escorts turned toward Pine Hollow jurisdiction.

The gray sedan remained.

Bishop's voice entered Silas's helmet. "Unmarked unit. Plate returns to municipal evidence storage."

"Mercer?"

"Unknown driver. Two passengers."

The road narrowed between rock and forest.

Ahead, brake lights flared.

A police barricade closed both lanes.

Grant had not searched the ambulance at the hospital because he wanted the cameras left behind.

Silas lowered one hand. Twelve Reapers slowed as one.

The ambulance stopped twenty yards from the roadblock.

Mercer stepped from behind a cruiser and drew his weapon.

"Open the doors!"

Silas looked at the blank rear windows.

The ambulance was empty.

But Mercer did not know that yet.