"We'll handle it without permanent solutions," Tank concedes. "If possible."
It's not the reassurance I was hoping for, but it's likely the most honest one I could expect. These men aren't bound by badges or rules. They operate in a world where violence is a tool, justice is self-administered, and loyalty trumps law.
Yet somehow, I feel safer with them than I ever did with the man who wore a uniform and swore to protect and serve.
Jenny returns from putting Anna to bed, her expression concerned. "She's finally asleep. What's going on? You all look like you're planning a war."
"Derek texted," I tell her, my voice steadier than I expected. "He knows we're in Blackwater Falls."
Jenny's face drains of color. "How? We were so careful."
"Doesn't matter how," Tank interjects. "What matters is what we do next. And right now, that means you three stay here while we prepare the welcome wagon."
Jenny looks from her brother to me, then back again. "You're not going to do something stupid, are you?"
"Define stupid," Beast mutters.
Tank shoots him a warning look before addressing his sister. "We're going to ensure Amelia and Anna's safety. That's all you need to know."
"That's not good enough," Jenny argues, a flash of stubbornness crossing her face. "I brought them to you for protection, not to start a blood feud."
"There won't be blood unless he makes it necessary," Tank says firmly. "But make no mistake, Jenny, this ends here, one way or another. Your friend and her daughter deserve to live without looking over their shoulders for the rest of their lives."
The siblings stare each other down, and I'm again struck by how similar they are despite their obvious differences. The same determined set of the jaw, the same unflinching gaze.
"Fine," Jenny relents finally. "But I'm not just sitting here while you put yourselves at risk for us. I want to help."
"You can help by staying with Amelia and Anna," Tank says. "They need you more than we do right now."
Before Jenny can argue further, my phone vibrates again. With dread pooling in my stomach, I check the screen.
*I know you're with that daycare friend of yours. The one whose brother lives in Blackwater Falls. Did you really think I wouldn't figure it out? You've always been predictable, Amelia.*
My blood turns to ice. Not only has Derek tracked us to Blackwater Falls, but he also knows about Jenny. About her connection to the town.
"What does it say?" Tank asks, watching my face closely.
I swallow hard, handing him the phone. "He knows I'm with Jenny. He's been investigating her, too, and knows about you."
Tank reads the message, his jaw tightening. "But he doesn't know who I am. Just that Jenny has a brother here."
"That won't take him long to figure out," Beast points out. "Cop like him, all he needs to do is run a background check on Jenny, find her family connections."
"By the time he does that, we'll be ready for him," Tank says.
Chapter 5 - Tank
"By the time he does that, we'll be ready for him."
I hand Amelia's phone back to her, careful to keep my angry expression cool despite the fury building inside me. I've dealt with men like Derek Mitchell before. Men who hide behind badges and use their authority to terrorize instead of protect. They're the reason I left the force. The reason I stopped believing in the system.
"Beast, get on the phone with King," I say, my mind already mapping out our next steps. "Tell him what's happening and that we need at least two more guys out here by morning. Then call Steel. We need surveillance on all roads leading into Blackwater Falls."
Beast nods and steps outside to make the calls, giving us privacy.
"What exactly are you planning?" Jenny asks, arms folded across her chest, suspicion evident in her eyes. She may have come to me for help, but she doesn't fully trust my methods. I can’t blame her for that.
"First, intelligence gathering," I explain, keeping my voice steady and professional. "We need to know when Mitchell enters Blackwater Falls territory. Then, we intercept him before he can find you."
