Specter handed Lily over without a word.
Luther took her. Held her.
One large hand cradling her head. The other wrapped around her small body like he could shield her from the entire world if he just held tight enough.
His eyes closed. His forehead pressed against the top of her head.
He didn't say anything. Nobody expected him to.
Then Lily's voice, muffled against his chest.
"Daddy. Angels came."
Luther's shoulders shook. Once. Just once.
Then he was still again.
He pulled back enough to look at her. Checked her face. Her hands. Her breathing.
Professional and thorough and shaking slightly at the edges.
"You okay, baby girl?"
"Uh-huh."
"You cold?"
"No."
"Boy gave me jacket."
Luther's eyes lifted. Found Emmett on the floor.
Took in the wet hoodie. The frostbitten hand wrapped in thermal blankets. The boots with the separated soles.
He stared for a long time.
Then he looked at Specter.
"He brought her."
"6 miles in the storm. After you collapsed at the hospital."
Luther's jaw worked.
He looked back at Emmett.
The boy's eyes were open now. Watching.
Steady despite the exhaustion.
"You heard me," Luther said.
Not a question.
"You said find the angels. She knew where."
"And you just walked."
"She was scared. I couldn't leave her there."
Luther knelt. Slowly.
Lily still in his arms.
He got down to Emmett's level. Stayed there.
"What's your name?"
"Emmett Holloway."
"Emmett, you know who I am?"
"The man from the hospital. Lily's dad."
"That's right."
Luther's voice was very quiet. Very controlled.
"You know what you did tonight?"
Emmett's eyes flicked to Lily, then back.
"I just walked."
"You walked 6 miles through freezing rain without a jacket. You're hypothermic. You've got frostbite. You almost died. For a kid you didn't know."
"She kept saying your name," Emmett said. "The whole way. Daddy. Daddy's angels. Like... like she knew. I don't know how she knew, but I believed her."
Luther didn't move for five full seconds.
Then he reached out with the hand that wasn't holding Lily and placed it on Emmett's shoulder.
Firm. Steady.
The kind of touch that meant something specific in the brotherhood.
"You brought my daughter home safe. You hear me? Safe. That means something to me. That means something to everyone in this room."
Emmett just nodded. His eyes were closing again.