Chapter 172

Alyssa POV

Leaving Zuri behind is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Harder than running from Isaac.

Harder than learning I killed a man at seven because my father sold children for a living.

Harder than choosing to die if it meant protecting the people I love.

Because this...this feels like abandonment.

She’s almost one. Too little to understand why her mama kissed her goodnight and didn’t stay. Too innocent to know I’m not leaving because I want to—I’m leaving because if I don’t, monsters will come.

Monsters that don’t care how small she is. How soft. How scared.

They’ll hurt her without hesitation.

I press my lips to her temple, inhaling her soft, sweet scent like it’s the last time. That baby-sweet scent, the one I swear only she has, floods my chest with something too big to hold. I force myself to step back from her crib before the ache in my heart breaks me wide open.

The door clicks shut behind me.

And t