Page 87 of North

She cocked her head at him. “I get it.”

Good.

“The guy who spent the last year planning for and engaging the enemy on a small unfortified island in the Caribbean.”

“I’m standing right here,” Ford said.

North glanced at him. “No offense, but you’re the tip of the spear. Not the defense force.”

Ford’s mouth tightened.

“And I’m also the guy who drove the RV into your front yard like a freaking beacon,” North said. “So, yeah. I’m in charge. And no one goes down on my watch.”

Silence.

Selah raised an eyebrow, did a poor job of hiding a smirk.

Okay, maybe he sounded a little like the team captain during capture the flag on the playground, but…yep. He was the team captain.

“Knox, the kids—don’t forget RJ’s munchkins.”

He nodded.

“Reuben, that includes your kids and your wife.”

“You don’t know my wife,” Reuben growled.

North met his gaze. “No, I don’t. But I do know the Russian Bratva. I’ve met them, and I know you don’t want your wife to meet them, because what you will need to do to save her might not be a memory she wants.”

Reuben’s mouth tightened.

“If she can handle a weapon, send her with Knox. He might need help.”

Again, Knox frowned but nodded.

Reuben glanced at him.

“I got her,” Knox said.

North turned to Selah. “And you⁠—”

“Not on your life.” She shook her head. “You’ll need someone on lookout and maybe even to reload.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Reload? What are we in—a Western? The shootout at the O.K. Corral?”

“Look around, bub. This is not your regular world.”

Smiles from the cowboys.

“Fine. Yes. I will need a lookout. Scarlett, you have any drones handy?” He meant it as a joke, but⁠—

“We have drones,” Reuben said. “We use them to check on the cattle.”

He smiled. “That works.”

“Do you really think they’re going to attack us?” Selah said quietly.

North looked at her and wanted very much to lie. “I think sometimes, no matter what you do, violence finds you. And you pray that you don’t have to engage, that somehow peace will win the day. But that’s not up to us. Our job is to be ready. We leave the rest up to God.”