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The armed men below paused, their heads tilting upward, searching the darkened hills for any sign of their quarry. Harry's breath caught in his chest, muscles tensed for the inevitable outbreak of violence. Beside him, Mick's hand rested on the stock of his rifle, ready to pull it into position at the slightest provocation.
But the expected escalation never came. Instead, a sharp command echoed up from the road, the boss's voice cutting through the stillness of the night. With an air of urgency, he gestured for his men to return.
Harry and Mick watched, puzzled, as the armed men regrouped and hurried back to their cars. There was a moment of silent communication between the two men on the hill, a shared readiness to engage. Yet, as the cars' engines revved and the vehicles sped away, no gunfire rang out, no battle ensued.
A sense of relief washed over Harry, a momentary respite from the tension that had gripped him. He exhaled slowly, allowing his body to relax just a fraction, though his mind remained alert.
Mick, however, was far from relieved. His expression was grim, his eyes tracking the retreating cars until they disappeared from view. "This isn't right," he muttered, his instincts telling him that their abrupt departure was bad news.
Harry turned to look at him, trying to understand. "What do you think happened?"
Mick shook his head, his thoughts clearly racing as he tried to unpack the sudden change in plans. "I don't know, but whatever spooked them or whatever they've learned... it's not good for us. It could mean they have a better lead, something that puts everyone back at Verde Lago at risk."
The gravity of the situation settled on Harry's shoulders like a lead weight. He knew Mick was right; the safety of their friends and the sanctuary that had protected so many hinged on the whims of their adversaries. The silence of the hills around them now seemed to mock their uncertainty, a reminder that in this cat-and-mouse game, the stakes were life and death.
"We need to warn them," Harry said, already moving back toward where they had parked their own vehicle.
Mick nodded, his mind already several steps ahead, planning their next move. "This damn truck will barely make it back, forget beat them back to the area.”
“What do we do then?”
“We make a call, warn them that way. Then we do everything we can to get back there in time to help.”
Harry was desperate to know what had changed the plan. What had these men running back? Did they have Rose? Did she give them information before they killed her? Did their drones and men find Verde Lago?
“Get out of your head kid,” Mick ordered. “The questions do you no good. Focus on what we do when we get there. I’m calling Kenan. A heads-up will be enough for him to be ready for whatever is coming if it’s coming.”
“Rose,” Harry said his voice pained.
“I’ve spent a lot of time with her too. She’s tough as nails. Stubborn as hell. She can handle whatever comes her way. Just focus.”
Harry was not built for this. Whatever Mick meant by focus, wasn’t possible. He could think of nothing but Rose. Of what might be happening. And how he’d never forgive himself if it did.
CHAPTER 21
The shaky conversations in the dark basement were shattered when four men burst through the door upstairs. Rose counted the thuds of their footsteps, figuring out how many they’d have to deal with.
Their movements were frenetic, driven by a singular purpose. They quickly found the hidden entrance to the basement, their eyes alight with the anticipation of the hunt as they swung it open.
Rose, who had been comforting the nervous little group, stood her ground as the men descended. Her heart raced, but her face remained a mask of calm. She had faced far worse in her life than the fury of desperate men.
“Topeka,” one man shouted. “She’s here. Tell us where to find her.” Their guns were pointed all around the room and people whimpered with fear.
"There's no one here by that name," Rose told them firmly as they scanned the dimly lit basement, their frustration mounting. "You can look for yourselves."
One of the men, his patience frayed to breaking point, turned on her and delivered a sharp slap across her face. The blow was meant to intimidate, to break her spirit, but they underestimatedthe steel within her. The pain was sharp, a bright flare across her cheek, but it did not rattle her. She had endured far more in her life than a slap. She knew how to tuck pain away like something to save for later.
Gio, who had been quietly watching from the corner, made a move to intervene, but he was quickly silenced with a brutal strike from the butt of a gun. He crumpled to the floor, unconscious, leaving Rose to face the men alone.
Drawing on a well of courage she had tapped many times before, Rose spoke up, her voice steady despite the danger. These men would kill these people if something didn’t drive them away from this place. Lead them away to save some lives. She could do that.
"I'm a friend of Topeka's," she declared, locking eyes with the leader of the group. "If you want her, I'm your best shot at drawing her out. These people," she gestured to the unconscious Gio and the frightened others in the room, "are not involved. Take me and leave them out of this."
Her offer hung in the air, a ploy that put her own life on the line to protect those around her. The men hesitated, weighing their options. They were hardened by their pursuits, but even they could recognize the value in Rose's proposition.
“You’re not her friend.” One of the men scoffed and shoved her backward.
“I am. I was friends with Russ too.” She cocked up a challenging brow.
