Now, see. Kevin wasn't an unreasonable man. He could be negotiated with. He did, in fact, have Eileen's best interests in mind. He didn't want to be ruining her young life, or breaking her spirits, or punishing her more than was strictly necessary.

And, well. He also knew when a Spade was making a very genuine, real threat that could be avoided by his own actions.

It was probably the quickest he'd jumped to open the door since Elisha came by.

For her own part, Eileen was actually looking up at visitors now. Her brow wrinkled slightly at the expression on Ethan's face, lips pursing together as she carefully set the journal she'd been working on translating for Caleb aside.