Page 31 of Stolen

The sun had risen over the mountains, touching the world with rose-gold light. By the time it went down, this would be over.

How many lives would be shattered before this day ended?

Just as the last of the trucks was driving away, Ariana saw Hawk and Boomer talking to—rather, arguing with—a group of men and women. The mayor, the sheriff, Mike Kirby’s parents, and many she didn’t know.

As Ariana approached, a voice was raised above the rest. “This is our town. We all have guns, we know how to shoot. And we know how to take out varmints.”

Hawk was saying, “These aren’t a bunch of drunk country boys. They’re a small army of mercenaries who have a scorched earth policy.”

Joann Kirby said, “All the more reason to stay and fight. They might come in here, and they might do us some damage, but they won’t be getting out again.”

Ariana spoke up. “You can’t. They’re coming here because of me. You all should never have been involved. I’m so sorry. But you should leave, get to safety. Please go.”

Joann turned to her. “This isn’t your fault, honey. Men like that think they can get away with anything, control whoever they want. If nobody stands up to them, they just keep doing it.”

One of the other women said, “I was in the National Guard. Spent some time in Afghanistan. I know how to fight people in the streets.”

Boomer raised his hand. “I can help with that. Land mines, grenades, booby traps.” He looked around the circle. “Anybody want to make some Molotov cocktails?”

As Boomer moved off with the town leaders, still talking, his brother pulled Hawk aside. “I’ve been trying all morning to reach them up at the Ridge, like you asked. I can’t raise anybody.”

Hawk immediately pulled out his phone and called the command center, then Gregor, and finally a few of the men whose personal phone numbers he had. No answer from anyone.

“Where the fuck are they all?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” Boomer’s brother never showed much emotion, but even he looked disturbed. “Should I go up there?”

Hawk debated. They needed Boomer’s brother here, to help with the town’s defenses—but the wolves on the Ridge were their army, their front line troops. They were trained soldiers and operatives, not farmers with hunting rifles. Any defense of the town would fail without them.

“Not yet,” he said finally. “I’ll see if Thanatos knows anything.”

Thanatos didn’t.

“I can’t even get through to the house,” he said. “I’m ordering Gunn to divert to the Ridge, unless he hears differently from us in the meantime.”

“Ten-four.”

Hawk ended the call, disquiet snaking through him. If the wolves of Outlaw Ridge didn’t come through, the town would be destroyed.