The words warmed something deep inside me. These women, who I’d known only a few weeks, were willing to risk themselves for Hail and me. After years of running, of trusting no one, I’d somehow found these fierce, loyal people who considered me family.
“What about Max?” Jessi asked Holly, glancing toward the front of the bakery where her son was handling customers. “He shouldn’t be involved in this.”
“I’ll close the bakery, but he’ll stay here behind locked doors,” Holly said. “I’ll get him to call Dungar’s office and the detective every five minutes until someone answers.”
“They’ll be expecting me to come alone.” I thought through the logistics. “If they see all of us coming…”
“They won’t,” Jessi said. “We’ll leave the sorhoxes close and go the rest of the way on foot. We know how to move quietly.”
The other women nodded.
“I may be old,” Aunt Inla said, “but I’m still orc enough to break a human in half if needed.”
I studied my friends, human and orc, young and old, all with the same determined expression. Whatever happened, we wouldface it as one unit. The realization eased some of the terror that had been choking me since finding Will’s note. I wasn’t alone anymore.
I frowned. “We can’t just charge in there.”
“You’re the distraction,” Jessi said. “You go in the front and keep Will talking. We’ll come in from behind.”
“The problem is Will’s threat.” I tapped the note in my pocket. “If they see anyone but me approaching…”
I didn’t finish the sentence. We all knew what would happen. The image of Hail bleeding, in pain, flashed through my mind again. I pushed it away. Focused on the plan, not the fear.
“And Tressa?” I looked down at the wolf who hadn’t left my side.
Tressa’s amber eyes met mine. She’d follow Hail through fire and danger. No doubt about that.
And she’d do so for me.
“She knows the woods better than any of us, and her hearing is superior,” Holly said. “I think she should come with us. She’ll sound a warning if we slip up and one of Will’s men sees us. If they’re not holding him there, Tressa will be able to guide us to him.”
Tressa’s ears perked forward at the mention of her name, and I swore she understood every word. Her loyalty to Hail was absolute. If anyone could find him, it would be her.
“Time’s running out,” Jessi said, glancing toward the back door. “We need to move.”
Holly went to speak with Max while the rest of us gathered what we needed. Some of us took knives. Aunt Inla lifted a cast iron skillet from a lower cupboard.
“Really?” I asked her.
“You ever been hit with one of these?” she said. “You don’t get back up.”
I couldn’t argue with that. The knife I held felt unfamiliar, frightening. I’d never hurt anyone in my life. Now I was preparing to face men who kill without remorse.
For Hail, I’d do whatever was necessary. The certainty of that thought should’ve scared me, but instead, it brought a strange calm.
Holly returned, a solid wooden rolling pin tight in her grip. “Max will stay here, though it took some persuasion.” She shook her head. “I told him to keep calling Dungar’s office and Detective Fernandez.”
“Let’s go.” I checked the time again.
Fifteen minutes to reach the camp.
Fifteen minutes to find Hail.
Fifteen minutes before they started hurting him.
Chapter 26
Allie
