"I see them."
These two are smart. They've identified our positions, and they're flanking—one moves toward Frost's window, one toward mine.
"Switching positions," Frost says, already moving. "Cover me."
I lay down fire toward the tango on my side, forcing him to take cover, while Frost relocates to the north window. Better angle. Better sight lines.
His shot drops one of the shadows.
One left.
Maybe.
But this one has had enough. There’s silence for what feels like an eternity. An engine roars to life and headlights swing around. He's running.
Frost's shot takes out the driver’s side tire, and the vehicle lurches to the side. The last tango abandons it, disappears into the darkness.
Silence.
Six tangos down. One fled.
I'm breathing hard now, adrenaline crashing, and my hands are starting to shake.
"Stay sharp," Frost says. "Could be a feint. Could be waiting forbackup."
"Or he's running back to report."
"Yeah." He moves through the ranch, checking angles, securing the perimeter. "Which gives us maybe an hour before more arrive."
"An hour." I lower the rifle, feel the tremor in my arms. "So what do we do?"
"We prepare for round two." He starts reloading magazines, the movements automatic and efficient. "And we hope Guardian HRS arrives before the cartel comes through with more enforcers."
I help him reload, my hands finding their rhythm despite the shaking.ThisI know how to do.Thismakes sense. Unlike everything else that's happened in the past three days.
"Frost?" My voice is quieter than I intend.
"Yeah?"
"In the warehouse. When you cut me loose. You looked at the trust documents, and I saw your face. You almost said something."
His hands go still on the magazine he's loading. "Yeah."
"You asked me my name, but then called me Magnolia. My full name."
"You said nobody calls you that."
"Nobody does." I set down the magazine and lean against the table. "But you looked at that document and you said it."
"Yeah. I did."
"Why?"
He's quiet for a long moment. "Because it's a beautiful name. And I don’t know why you hate it so much."
The honesty catches me off guard. Most people don't ask. They just accept that I go by Maggie and move on. But Frost is looking at me like he actually wants to know.
"My mother named me after the state flower," I hear myself say. "Georgia's state flower. Magnolia. She said it was a symbol of southern beauty and strength. Grace and resilience."
