Page 110 of Last Man Standing

“Is she wandering, or walking with a destination in mind?”

“Destination. She’s entering the stables, sir.”

“The stables?” I stumble in place and temporarily lock up my knee. The cold steel of my Glock cools my flesh, while memories of a long afternoon spent with Jasper make my heart swell. Could she be visiting him again? Could it be so innocent?

And why the fuck would she need a gun for that?

“She’s exiting the stables again, sir. In through the east, out through the west.”

I narrow my eyes and continue along the icy concrete surrounding an even icier pool. It’s too cold out here for it not to have a layer at the top, but that layer is so thin, even a small cat would break through if it attempted a stroll across the surface.

“Keep me updated. Perimeter check?”

“Sir, Dayden here.” Another voice fills our call. “Perimeter is secure. Sensors haven’t been disturbed in hours. The skies are clear, and thermals are showing nothing out there that shouldn’t be. Everything appears as it should.”

“Ah, sir?” The first voice, Jaxen, comes back. “She’s entered a tunnel on the west end. It appears she’s headed⁠—”

“Your way.” Dread sits heavy in my belly, like black lava turned cold that still has the power to burn. “Fuck. Okay.” Instead of following her to the tunnel she entered, I cut left and use a closer entry point, moving down the stairs at a silent jog and entering the dark passageway with just the red-light dots placed strategically far enough apart to provide visibility… minimally.

Why are you headed to the security bunker, Scarlett?

Please, for the love of God, don’t prove my mom right.

Not this time.

“She’s slowing,” Jaxen breathes, like he thinks he has to whisper. “She’s about fifteen feet from… ten feet from… Ah shit,” he gulps. “She’s here, sir.”

The heavy thud of a fist knocking on a steel door comes at me through the phone, and again through the tunnel we share. “Excuse me?” Scarlett’s scared voice follows next. Her trembling uncertainty and a crackle in her words. “It’s, uh…” She clears her throat. “Um. S-Scarlett. Castro.”

Jaxen’s voice comes out in a hiss. “Sir?”

“Answer the door. Don’t make her aware I can hear her. Dayden?”

“Yes, sir. I got it.” He stands from his chair, punctuated by the squeak of its frame, then his boots clod across the concrete floor. Jesus, the way my men draw heady breaths makes it sound like we’re preparing for a thousand-man invasion.

The world goes silent for a beat. Then the scratch of the door’s heavy steel slide-bolt ricochets along the hall.

And then more silence.

“Uh…” The fear in Scarlett’s voice hurts me somewhere deep in my fucking soul. Her trepidation makes my skin prickle. “H-hello.”

“How can we help you, Ms. Castro?” Dayden doesn’t sound nearly as rattled as I know he is. “You shouldn’t be down here.”

“I shouldn’t? But…” She swallows her words. Because I told her she could go anywhere she wants, anytime she wants to go there. And now she’s being told otherwise. “Okay. I’m sorry. Y-you’re right, I’ll… never mind.”

“Do not let her go,” I growl. “Ask her what she wants.”

“Ms. Castro?” Jaxen bounds up from his chair and runs to the door. “What do you need?”

“No, it’s⁠—”

“We insist,” he presses. “Mr. Jameson instructed us to follow your orders.”

Scarlett’s sharp intake of air pulses throughout the tunnel. “He did?”

I did.

“Well…” Jaxen chuckles. “Ya know, within reason. You came down here for a reason. What is it?”