Selene paused for a moment. She knew all too well about Dames’s situation—without her by his side at night, the boy could hardly sleep.
When Dames was little, he’d been a high-needs child. If Selene ever let her attention wander, his crying would go on and on, relentless and exhausting. Even after he grew older and started to realize how much he depended on her, Dames had tried to distance himself, but when it came to bedtime, he still needed his mother’s comforting presence.
How did he get through those nights when she wasn’t there?
Selene forced herself not to dwell on it.
“We didn’t take all our clothes with us when we left the Vaughn family,” she said quietly.
“That’s what I told Dames, too,” Daph replied, pouting. “But Dames said all your clothes that you left behind were thrown away.”
Whether it was Harrison or Gemma who’d done it didn’t matter to Selene. She’d left the Vaughn house with only what she could carry; it was no surprise the rest had ended up in the trash.
Selene considered for a moment. “Go ahead and get some clothes for him.”
Daph’s face lit up instantly. “Thanks, Mom!”
She hopped off her chair, threw her arms around Selene, and planted a kiss on her cheek. Selene’s eyes softened, a gentle smile curving her lips as she watched Daph scurry off toward her bedroom.
Opening the wardrobe, Daph eyed the small collection of clothes, tapping her chin in thought, trying to decide which one would be best for Dames.
*
Not long after Selene sent Daph on her way, a drone hovered outside their apartment’s balcony window.
It was equipped with a mechanical claw, which deftly unlatched the screen before the drone slipped inside.
Meanwhile, parked at the entrance to the complex was a sleek black Mercedes.
Inside, Harrison sat at the controls, piloting the drone. He watched the live feed from the drone’s camera, his gaze settling on the laundry hanging out to dry on Selene’s balcony.
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