Chapter 16:
"Ella Rae. It's your father. Please open the gate."
I stood in the living room with Lily on my hip.
The voice came through the speaker again. Calm. Patient. Like a man asking for a cup of sugar.
"Go upstairs," Kael said again.
"Kael—"
"Go upstairs. Take your mother and Sierra and Lily. Lock the door. Don't come out."
"Kael."
He turned around. His face was flat.
"Ella," he said. "I'm not asking. Not this time."
I looked at him. At the door. At the speaker.
Then I handed him Lily.
"What?" he said.
"You want me upstairs? Fine. But my daughter goes with you."
He looked down at her. She was heavy with sleep and warm. She put her head on his shoulder.
"Ella," he said.
"You're not gonna fight with her in your arms. You're gonna hand her to Benny or Taz or somebody and
