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“I don’t care. I’ve had my fill of war and of watching young men die. I want to be left alone.”
“I would have thought you’d welcome a chance to make those who slaughtered your unit pay for what they did.”
Hutch froze. He could feel rage surging through his veins, forcing him back to life when all he wanted was to hide away and forget the pain.
“You don’t know me…”
“But I do. It is men like you who will help us defeat the League. Besides, there is safety in numbers. The League knows who you are and more importantly knows that you know who they are. They can’t afford to allow you to live. That driver that almost hit you outside the general’s office? That was no accident, and he works for them.”
“You can’t know that…”
“Can’t I? I have the best intelligence network in the world. The League is coming for you. If you won’t join the resistance in putting a stop to those bastards, then at least don’t put yourself at greater risk.”
Suspicious, Hutch asked, “Why do you care?”
“Because your friend Smitty was a member of my clowder and that last letter from him meant the world to his fiancée. She will treasure it always. At least come back with me to Mystic River. Let me make my case. If I can’t convince you to at least come and stay in Mystic River, I will take you wherever you want to go. I have a helicopter and a hotshot pilot. She can get you into places so remote not even you will know where you are.”
As Hutch stood there contemplating both the offer and the man, he saw a single red laser light cut through the darkness, first settling on him and then switching to Reynolds. Hutch launched himself at Colby with a predatory grace.
“Shooter,” he yelled, grabbing the lapels of Reynold’s cashmere overcoat and throwing them both to the ground.
He hit Reynolds with his entire body weight, tackling and throwing him to the ground as all around them the night was shattered by the sound of automatic gunfire. Hutch gritted his teeth and snarled as his body hit the concrete sidewalk and rolled himself and Reynolds behind one of the pillars. There were few people milling around at this time of night, but those who were starting to panic.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hutch saw a large SUV barreling toward them. Reynolds grabbed him. “Mine,” he said tersely, jumping to his feet and dragging Hutch into the vehicle with him as someone from the passenger side jumped out, slammed the door, and leapt back inside to the relative safety of the vehicle as it sped off into the night. “Thank you. I was just about to knock you down, until I saw the dot move to me.”
Hutch nodded. “I think I was the target, but when they realized it was you, they decided it was better to take you out.”
Reynolds grinned. “Well, if nothing else, I got you into my SUV and we’re headed to a private airport north of the city. From there, I’d like you to accompany me to Mystic River. I think that little incident should prove to you that you are not yet out of the Shadow League’s crosshairs.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then you are free to go. I will be happy to take you wherever it is you want to be. I don’t much like your chances for survival, but if it is death you are seeking, I suppose that is your right to choose.”
‘I don’t want to die.’It was one of the last things Smitty had said to him. Smitty hadn’t wanted to die, but he joined the military before the fight broke out with the Shadow League. He’d been clear with Hutch that he would muster out as soon as he could and return home to Windsong to take up arms against the League.‘I don’t want to die.’
“I don’t know how much help I can or want to be. To be perfectly honest, I’ve seen and done too much. I’ve taken too many lives and seen too much blood.”
“I think you have more to offer the resistance than just your physical capabilities. I’ve heard more than one tale of operations you’ve planned and pulled off with no casualties on your side.”
“I blew that winning streak wide open when Smitty and my whole unit was killed.”
“Not just killed—slaughtered. Slaughtered and butchered. You were betrayed. Someone told the Shadow League where you were. Two of the men in your unit had ties to the resistance. The League had to know we would try to enlist you. The attack on your men was specific and targeted. They wanted to murder your people—two of whom were with us—but I also think they were after you. You’d be a huge boon to the resistance. We could use you, if nothing else, as a strategist.”
“I don’t know,” said Hutch, shaking his head.
“I’m not asking you to make a decision. Just come back with me to Mystic River. Give yourself some time and space to think and decide what you want to do. What were you planning to do with the rest of your life?”
Hutch leaned back against the comfortable leather seat and chuckled. “You might find this a bit incongruous, but more than once I’ve thought about opening a bakery. Not anything fancy, but just an artisan bread bakery, offering cookies, scones, muffins, simple cakes, and pies. I can’t decorate to save my life, but I find baking relaxing.”
“I may just have the opportunity for you. Mystic River used to have a great bakery like that, only Scott also made wedding cakes and the like. He ran afoul of the Shadow League early on and before the resistance really came into its own. In order to keep his mate and the town safe, they took off and are on the run. We’re hoping we can find them and convince them to come home. But given that Otter Cove has nothing like the Northern Lights Bakery, I’m thinking there’s room for both of you.”
“Or if he likes to do all the fancy and catering stuff, it might be advantageous for both of us to form a partnership.”
Colby grinned. “You might be on to something. So, you’ll at least accompany me back to Mystic River and think about it?”
Hutch thought for a moment and then slowly nodded. “That sounds like the right thing to do, but I’m not promising anything to do with the resistance.”
“Understood.”
