Jade froze. Terror visible. Raw. Immediate. The confident girl who'd been emerging. Gone. Replaced instantly by terrified child. Trauma triggered. Survival mode activated.

"No. Please. I can't. I can't go back. Please. Don't make me go back."

Dante stepped between them. The father and Jade. Physical barrier. Protection. "She's not going anywhere with you. Not tonight. Not ever. Not until she chooses. Not until she's safe."

"She's my daughter. Mine. You can't keep her. You have no right. No authority. No. Nothing. She's coming home. Now."

"She's sixteen. Old enough to choose. Old enough to refuse. Old enough to say no. And she's saying no. So you're leaving. Now. Before...