Elena still hadn't fully released her daughter. One arm remained around Rachel's waist as she finally looked around the rest of the room, taking in Victoria, Maya, and me with a polite but sharp assessment. When her gaze landed on me, her expression softened into something warmer and more evaluating.
"You must be Dexter. Rachel mentioned you more than once in the messages she managed to send after the rescue. Thank you… for looking after her out there."
Her voice carried genuine gratitude, but there was also the unmistakable protectiveness of a mother who had almost lost her child and was now cataloguing every person who had been present during the danger.
She kept Rachel close against her side the entire time, fingers occasionally smoothing her daughter's hair or adjusting the collar of her hospital gown as if the small, doting gestures could erase the days of fear.
