"Can you actually call the National Guard?" Kai asked, genuinely curious despite everything.
"Do you want to find out?"
"We'll be there in an hour," Marcus promised, and hung up before Linda could issue more threats.
Getting everyone into vehicles proved complicated. The children didn't want to separate—seven years of Victoria's "training" had apparently included never being alone—and none of them wanted to let go of their parents.
Eventually they managed a configuration: Marcus drove his car with Oliver, Claire, and Maya. Callum took his truck with the twins and James. Samantha rode with Raina, Emma still clinging to her like a barnacle despite seatbelt laws and basic physics.
The drive home should have been straightforward.
It wasn't.
They were approximately fifteen minutes from the house when Oliver spoke from the backseat, his voice small and confused.
"Mr. Marcus? Why is there a car following us?"
