The elevator carried us down into a restricted passage beneath the airport. Concrete, aviation fuel, and chilled metal gave the air a distinct smell. In the distance, the clattering of baggage carts sounded almost like rolling thunder.
Noah received another notification.
He checked the screen and muttered a curse.
“What?” I asked.
“The man is still at arrivals,” Mara answered for him. “But now he has two airport officers with him.”
My legs threatened to collapse. “Can he take Lily?”
“Not without paperwork,” Noah said.
“You don’t know Ryan.” I couldn’t keep my voice from rising. “He lies like breathing. He’ll tell them I’m unstable. He’ll say I kidnapped her. He’ll say anything if it makes him look like the wounded father.”
Mara extended her hand. “Do you have custody documents? Divorce filings? Anything showing you’re allowed to travel?”
Heat rushed into my cheeks.
Every crucial document was stored inside a folder in my luggage.
And that luggage was waiting somewhere at baggage claim.
Mara seemed to understand without an explanation. “We’ll retrieve it.”
“No,” I said. “I need to get it. My documents are in there.”
“Emily,” Noah said, “walking into baggage claim is exactly what he wants.”
His steady tone should have reassured me, but instead it stirred my anger.
