Tane’s grin widened.“Copy that, boss.”He grabbed Victor by the collar and hauled him to his feet.“Come on, sunshine.We’re gonna have a nice long chat about your life choices.”
Victor winced but didn’t resist.“You always this charming?”
“Wait till I really want something from you, then you’ll see the charm.”Tane nudged him forward, and the two disappeared into the smoke, their voices fading into the distance.It was the first hint of levity the night had offered.
Kael turned toward the courtyard, where Aunty Leilani stood brushing soot from her dress.Her gray hair was wild around her face, but her spine was straight, her chin lifted.When she saw him, she crossed her arms and gave him a look that could’ve peeled paint.
“Kael,” she said, voice sharp as the crack of a whip.“You call that a plan?Letting the bad men bring fire to our home?”
Kael winced.“Wasn’t exactly scheduled, Aunty.”
“Hmph.”She looked him over, eyes narrowing on the blood seeping through his shoulder.“You’re leaking.You get yourself patched before you start acting tough.”
“Yes, ma’am.”He couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at his mouth.
Behind him, Mano and Breaker appeared, helping a limping Reef across the courtyard.Reef’s face was pale, left calf bandaged with what looked like a torn shirt.
“Still alive,” Reef muttered.“But I think I left half my dignity on the north wall.”
Breaker chuckled.“Wasn’t much there to start with, kid.”
Aunty clucked her tongue.“Boys, enough.Inside, all of you.I’m making food.You’re too thin to fight, all bones and foolishness.”She turned to Drew, her tone softening slightly.“You too, nephew.You’re skin and bone.I’ll feed you until you can’t move.”
Drew blinked, then smiled despite himself.“Yes, ma’am.”
Kael bit back a laugh.“Welcome to the family.”
Aunty pointed toward the main building.“Inside.All of you.And don’t bleed on my floors.”
They obeyed, the adrenaline fading as exhaustion crept in.Inside the command center, the air was cooler.Kael sank into a chair, pain from his shoulder pulsing in time with his heartbeat.He pulled out his phone and started making calls—old favors owed, cleanup crews who specialized in erasing the kind of chaos they’d just survived, and the authorities, because that was the kind of law abiding citizen he was.
An hour later, they were all patched up.Across the room, Luka and Niko were already sketching out improvements to their perimeter defenses.“We need motion sensors on the south ridge,” Keanu chipped in.“And thermal cameras along the beachline.”
Luka nodded.“And reinforced gates.Next time someone tries to ram them, I want solid steel barricades that rise straight through the drive, and we need to concrete it all.Damn gravel is too loud to move on.”
Drew leaned against the wall, watching them.“I want to make a change too.”
Kael looked up.“What kind of change?”
Drew’s eyes softened, the faintest trace of humor in them.“A house.Right here on the property.For us.Somewhere permanent.”
Luka grinned.“Finally!We are all sick of the van shaking.”
“Pretty sure the suspension’s crying,” Keanu added, deadpan.
Niko snorted.“It’s not the van crying, it’s me trying to sleep through it.”
Laughter rippled through the room, cutting through the heaviness that had settled in.Even Kael found himself chuckling.
He reached out, fingers brushing Drew’s hand.“Guess I’ll have to build us something with stronger foundations.”
Drew’s smile warmed, quiet but full of promise.“Stronger’s good.”
Kael leaned in, voice low, teasing.“I was talking about the walls.What were you thinking?”
Niko groaned.“I’m injured, man, don’t make me throw up.”
Aunty’s voice echoed from the kitchen.“Food’s ready!And if you don’t come now, I’ll feed the pigs instead!”
