"Good. Stay behind me. Do not engage unless you have a clear shot. Conserve your ammunition. Understood?"
"Understood."
He takes my chin, kisses me hard, and then leads me out of our suite.
We move through the house, down the hallway. The main house is chaos—Jake and Mason are already in the living room, weapons drawn. Emma is crouched behind a turned over cabinet, her face pale but determined. Lily is with her, holding a shotgun, a knife strapped to her thigh.
"South perimeter is breached," Jake says through the comms. "Mason, take the east side. Luke, with me in the kitchen. Harper, stay here with Emma and Lily."
I shake my head. "I'm not leav?—"
"Stay with them," Jake snaps, his voice leaving no room for argument.
I grit my teeth but nod.
Luke gives me one last look—intense and protective—and then he's gone, moving toward the front of the house with Jake and Mason.
The gunfire is constant now—a war zone.
I crouch beside Emma and Lily, my weapon drawn, my heart pounding so hard I can barely hear anything else.
"What's happening?" Emma asks, her voice shaking.
"Turner's attacking the ranch.” I squeeze her arm reassuringly. “Breathe slowly. Keep junior calm, okay? We’re going to be fine.”
"I should have sold him the Circle H.” Emma shakes her head. “I’m so sorry.”
“No,” Lily says ruthlessly, looking Emma in the eye. “You do not apologize. This isn’t your fault.”
“Yeah,” I agree, peeking out from behind the cabinet. “He’s a big bully. I’ve got ten on Luke making him cry before the night is out.”
“I’m betting on Mason,” Lily chimes in loyally. “He has a bigger gun.”
I snort.
Another burst of gunfire, this time from inside the house.
Luke's voice comes over the comms, clear and calm. "Three hostiles down. More coming from the north."
"Copy," Jake responds. "Mason, status?"
"East side secure. Two hostiles neutralized."
I hear Mandy's voice, cold and detached. "Good morning, boys. Miss me?”
“Well, shit,” Luke drawls. “I thought you were going to miss the party.”
“Nothing would make me miss this.” A couple shots sound. “South perimeter clear. Moving to reinforce the front."
“Hendricks?” Jake asks.
“Out there somewhere,” is all she says.
The fight rages for what feels like hours but is probably only minutes. My legs start to tingle from not moving, but I’m not leaving my post guarding Emma and Lily.
Then suddenly I realize the gunfire’s stopped.
A lull.