Rose is back in my arms.Warm.Breathing.Crying softly.Safe.I hold her tight, rocking slowly in the nursery chair. Tears fall onto her blanket—joy and fear tangled together.Noah stands over us, one hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. His eyes are red, his face exhausted, but there’s a small, wet smile.“She’s here,” he says. His voice is rough. Cracked.I look up at him, tears spilling.“Yeah.”He kneels, kisses Rose’s forehead, then mine—long and gentle.“We got her back.”I nod, crying quietly.“But why let her go?”His face darkens. Rage settles in, quiet and cold. His tears dry.“I don’t know.” His voice drops. Raw.We sit in silence, rocking back and forth.“They didn’t take the money,” I whisper, my voice small.He nods.“A warning.”Tears spill faster.“Or a game.”I break harder.“They were in our home. Took her. And gave her back.”He rubs his face slowly, hard.“A message.”I look at him, eyes wide.“What message?”He looks down at Rose, now asleep, peaceful.“That th
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