As they led her out, she looked at Naomi. There was no hate left in her eyes. Only a terrifying emptiness.
“He wouldn’t stop crying,” Evelyn whispered as she passed.
When the house was finally quiet—a real quiet, not the silence of secrets—Richard looked at Naomi.
“You saved his life,” he said. “If you hadn’t gone in… if you hadn’t looked…”
“I couldn’t leave him,” Naomi said.
“Most people would have,” Richard said. “Most people would have just closed the door and taken the paycheck.”
He stood up.
“I can’t stay in this house tonight,” he said. “I’m taking Theo to a hotel. And then… we’re going to my sister’s.”
He paused.
“Naomi, I know this is… a lot. But I can’t do this alone. I don’t trust anyone else. Will you come with us? Please. Just until I figure this out. I’ll double your salary. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Naomi looked at the baby in his arms. Theo was finally asleep. His breathing was deep and even. He was safe.
Naomi thought about the bite marks. She thought about the fierce protective instinct that had roared to life in her chest.
“I’ll come,” Naomi said. “I’m not leaving him.”
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