Trust was a fragile thing, but seeing the sincerity in Sam’s eyes made me pause. I nodded reluctantly and motioned for him to get into the passenger seat. As we drove away, leaving the chaotic scene behind, he began to explain. “Robert got mixed up with a bad crowd,” Sam confessed, his voice heavy with regret. “I didn’t know how deep until it was almost too late. I sent you the text—there are people looking for him. Dangerous people. The police were tipped off, and I knew you needed to be far away when they arrived.”

Silence hung between us as the weight of his words settled in. My heart ached for my son and for the family caught in the crossfire of his choices. “What do we do now?” I asked quietly, staring at the road ahead.