Rafe shrugged as if it didn’t matter and strolled toward the aisle full of tools and tech gadgets. Maya was already there, poking through a shelf next to a stiff-shouldered shopper.
Nina slipped her arm through Knox’s as they strolled down the center aisle. When they reached a turn, she swung around it, out of sight of the watchful man at the front of the store. “What do you think?”
“I think it would take something pretty bad to make Eileen shut down at lunchtime,” he replied quietly. “And I think that cashier is scared to death.”
Nina leaned closer, her mouth a scant inch from his ear. “Of strangers, or of—” Her words cut off as the bell over the door pealed again, and two more armed men entered the store.
They didn’t even try to act casual. The weight of their gazes burned over Knox as he nuzzled Nina’s cheek and studied them. Tall. Hard. They didn’t move like soldiers, but they moved like men used to intimidating with their looks and their weapons. And they were comfortable with those weapons. They were the kinds of bullies who preferred easily cowed prey, but could still fight when they encountered resistance.
The kind of scum that had probably already marked Knox as military. Scum usually did.
Nina’s hair tickled his cheek. He inhaled the clean, floral scent of her and exhaled on a whisper. “We have to get out of here.”
Her hands tightened on his arms. “To leave or to regroup?”
“To assess the situation.”
She nodded, pulled a handful of wrapped pastries from the shelf beside them, and raised her voice a little. “I have what I need.”
Knox settled his hand at the small of her back as he steered her up to the counter. The nervous-looking cashier totaled Nina’s purchases on a tablet and slid it over silently for a credit stick.
As Nina paid, the others lined up behind them. The cashier never spoke, even when Rafe offered her another open, friendly smile.
The silence followed them outside, where they wordlessly split up and piled into their vehicles.
Behind the wheel, Gray exhaled sharply. “What the fuck?”
Paper crinkled. As Gray started the engine, Rafe held out a crumpled scrap of receipt with two words scrawled on it in thick black marker.
Help us.
“The cashier’s name is Sarah. I think her dad owns the shop. Last time we came through, I flirted with her a little. Mace gave her some meds for her brother.” Rafe closed his fist around the paper. “She slipped me the note when she was handing me a bottle of liquor from behind the counter. Whatever’s going on in there is bad.”
No doubt about it. Knox started to reach for the radio but hesitated. If they had snipers with eyes on the street, they might have someone listening in for comms traffic. “Drive back toward the freeway,” he told Gray. “Find a place to pull off. One of the old factories, something with some cover.”
Gray obeyed, but it was with set teeth and a shake of his head. “This is not our problem. You realize that, right?”
Not a smart thing to say with Rafe’s fist so close. He smacked it into Gray’s shoulder. “Don’t be an ass. The people need some fucking help.”
“Rafe.” Knox grasped the man’s wrist and urged him to sit back. “We’ll discuss the situation. But you need to remember what happens to Luna if a sniper takes you down and you bleed out in the street here in Dalton.”
Gray pulled to a stop on the far side of an abandoned brick warehouse, underneath a sagging overhang. The building would shield them from the sniper’s view, and the overhang would keep them out of sight of any potential drones. Dani followed, coming to a slow stop beside them, careful not to kick up any dust.
Nina exited the truck, already peeling off her jacket. “Recon. Who’s on it?”
“Hang on a second,” Gray protested.
Knox laid a hand on Gray’s shoulder and pivoted to face Nina. “We don’t know yet if this is a fight we can afford to pick.”
Nina scoffed. “You’re not serious.”
“My men are on a clock, Nina. We only have so much time left. Conall may not—”
“No.” Conall spoke, hoarse but firm. He had a heavy bag in one hand, which he dropped at Nina’s feet. But his gaze clashed with Knox’s, full of challenge. “If I only have one fight left, this is a good one. I don’t want to live if the cost is letting