The sooner I throw some water on my face and wake all the way up, the sooner I can get downstairs, cook breakfast, and fill my stomach.
I guess all our late-night fun left me starving for more.
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I head into the closet and pick out an outfit for myself. Dark jeans. Black shirt.
A decent-sized weapons trunk with tactical gear, guns, ammo, and holsters sits on the closet floor.
Good thing the place is well-stocked.
Never know when that might come in handy.
Once I’ve dressed and armed myself, I re-emerge from the closet and find Trinity sitting on the bed, her eyes still bleary.Mussed coppery hair crinkles at odd angles, and dark circles shadow her unamused green eyes.
An odd sensation tickles the back of my neck.
“What is it?” Trinity covers her mouth as she yawns.
“Nothing.” I shake off the strange feeling and grab my phone from the windowsill. “Come on.”
I lead Trinity back down to the first floor, a sense of premonition still all over me. As soon as we reach the bottom of the staircase, Trinity wanders toward the den, yawning again, and plops down on the couch.
I survey the space, anticipation singing through my blood?—
Clank.
“What was that?” Trinity sits up on the couch, swinging her head around.
Another clank echoes through the room, then a third and a fourth.
The clang of metal falling down the chimney grows louder until a little silver canister rolls onto the hearth.
A heartbeat later, smoke leaks from the top of the can with a piercing hiss.
Tear gas? Or just smoke bombs?
Either way…
Fuck, fuck, fuck, we’re in trouble.
I sprint toward the kitchen, yanking open the cabinet under the sink to grab gas masks.
When I straighten, ice slices through my chest.
ATVs approach the farmhouse from all sides, gliding through the desert morning like an invading horde.
How the hell did they find us?
I inhale through my nose, forcing down the quick rush of fear.
I can handle this. I’ll figure out where they came from later.
“Brody!” Panic vibrates Trinity’s voice.
I race from the kitchen toward the den and grab her by the shoulders.
“Get down!”
I tackle her and roll us both onto the floor.
