The safe house was supposed to be secure. Marcus had assured them that no one could approach without triggering multiple alarm systems. The grounds were patrolled by armed guards. The windows were reinforced, the doors locked with codes that changed daily. By any objective measure, Emma and her children were safer than they had been in years.

But safety, Emma discovered, was not just a matter of physical protection. It was a state of mind, a feeling of security that couldn't be ...