“Sometimes I forget I had other choices,” I said.
“You still do.”
“Yeah,” I said.“I choose this.”
Headlights appeared again, far in the distance.“Convoy returning,” Spade reported.“Same pattern.No extra vehicles.You’re good where you are.”
“Copy,” General replied.
I held my breath as the lead SUV hit the bridge.
The convoy slowed.
The second SUV edged closer to the truck, boxy shadow hulking in the middle.They didn’t stop completely, but they rolled slow enough I could see doors crack open as men leaned out and shouted.
The lead SUV’s driver-side door opened.A man stepped out.Stocky.Jacket.I couldn’t see his face from here.He walked around the front.He called back toward the truck.
The rear SUV’s driver stuck his head out, neck craning as he scanned the darkness surrounding the bridge.His gaze swept across our position, searching for watchers.
No chance he’d spot us.
The lead man climbed back inside.If he’d sensed something, he’d clearly written it off as paranoia.
The convoy continued forward.
I scanned the empty bridge for another ten minutes to make sure no other vehicles followed.
Then we headed home.
* * *
Jade waited on the couch in the common room when we walked in.One of my T-shirts on.Her hair twisted into a messy knot.Eyes locked on the door.
Aside from Spade and Atilla, the room sat mostly empty.Late hour.Kids in bed.Most of the guys gone to their rooms or out on gate duty.
She stood when she saw me.
I dropped onto the couch.She sank down beside me immediately, thigh pressed to mine.
Spade closed his laptop.“We’ll watch to see what changes.Routes.Times.Paranoia.”
“Why paranoia?”Jade asked.
“He clearly felt like he was being watched or at least sensed something was off.He’s not the type to just brush that off.I have no doubt Diaz’s security guys will earn their pay this week.”
“He going to hit back?”Jade asked.
“Eventually,” Atilla replied.“He’ll either lash out or go quiet.Either way, he knows we can touch his world.That matters.”
“I’m tired ofsafeandbreathingmeaning trapped,” she said.
“You weren’t trapped,” I reminded her.“You held the kids while they cried.You sat in Spade’s office for hours decoding Jason’s notes when everyone else gave up.”
Jade crossed her arms.“You talk as though I performed some heroic deed.”
“Because you did.”I leaned forward, elbows on my knees.“Go ahead and romanticize us standing on bridges all night.The truth?Without people keeping doors locked and children calm, we’d lose our minds out there.”
She stared at the floor, considering my words.
