Page 209

“Because knowing what you’re doing doesn’t make bullets less dangerous.”

Arthur reaches for his gear.

“I’m going.”

“No.”

“Sean.”

“Sage is asleep twenty feet away.”

His jaw tightens.

I don’t have to say anything else.

Arthur stays.

We wait.

I hate waiting.

I spent years in places where waiting meant someone was deciding whether we lived or died.

Nothing appears on the traffic camera.

No calls come through.

Five minutes pass.

Then ten.

Hayley paces behind me.

Arthur stands near the door.

Will watches the exterior feeds.

Taylor keeps trying to restore the Iron Ridge cameras.

At eleven minutes, my phone rings.

Kane.

I answer.

“Status?”

“We’re fine.”

“What about the men?”

“Three are breathing.”

“And the fourth?”

“Also breathing. He’s just unhappy about it.”

Relief moves through the room.