Page 34 of Zero Visibility

Jen leaned her head against his shoulder. “This is such a troubled time. What type of world will our child be coming into?”

Ben draped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her closer. “The best one we can make for them. It’s up to us to stop Legion. But it won’t be easy.”

Her heart went out to her husband. He’d been fighting so hard to protect their country. Even when she didn’t realize that was what he was doing.

“How much further until we reach the compound?” They risked running into more of Legion’s goons every moment they were out in the open.

“Half an hour.” He squeezed her close. “I know it’s been a scary ride. I just hope the rest is a safe passage. We deserve it.”

She smiled against his chest. “We do. I had no idea what you really did for a living. This is crazy.”

“Yeah, it is.” He hesitated long enough for her to pull away.

“What?”

He peered into her eyes. “This. It’s all of this.” The bitterness in his tone was alarming.

She waited to say something more while her heart drummed against her chest.

“I don’t know how much more of this I can handle. I thought we were doing well, but the reality is we’ve been struggling just to stay alive. Legion has everyone convinced we’re the bad guys.” The desperation in his eyes was hard to take. “As hard as I try, I don’t see this thing having a good ending.”

She shivered at what he said. “I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve gone through. How many innocent people have died? And for what? So Legion can control the world? I don’t understand that depth of evil, but I truly believe it can only come from Satan.”

He held her close. “I agree. And they’ll keep coming after us. They won’t stop until every last one of us is dead or they’re stopped. I can’t imagine the former. We have to keep fighting.”

She wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince the most. “You’ll feel better once we reach the compound and you have a sense of security. We both need rest and a proper meal.” She watched the other couple who were seated in front of them. “How does Cole know the Ottomans?” she asked out of curiosity, but mostly because she wanted to take his mind off their troubles.

“He told me that they were good friends with his grandparents and like family apparently. I’m glad they came with us. Legion would eventually figure out their connection to Cole and try to use it to their advantage. They’re coming after everyone we know. We’ve got to get our team’s loved ones to safety before it’s too late for them.”

“That’s something we can work on once we’re safe ourselves.” She leaned against him and just wanted to stay close for as long as possible. Convince herself this nightmare would end soon. Good could triumph over evil.

Ben’s phone rang. He pulled it out. “It’s Cole.” He answered it. “What’s up? We’re about twenty minutes outside of the compound.”

Jen watched Ben’s face as he listened. Right away, she could tell something was terribly wrong.

“All right, we’ll find a place to hide out until you give the word.” His shoulders slumped and he ended the call. “There are dozens of heavy military vehicles moving down the road a few miles from the compound. Cole thinks they’re relocating men and weapons to the last known sighting for us. Either that or Tegan’s lying, and he gave our location away. Still, we can’t take any chances.” Ben leaned forward. “Peter, we need a place to get out of sight for a while.” He explained Cole’s call.

“Copy that,” Peter confirmed from the passenger seat. “I’ll start looking for a place for Will to pull over.”

Ben pulled up their location on GPS and studied the area. “There appears to be a house on the left not far from here. Don’t know if it’s vacant or not. I suggest we go in dark.”

Will leaned forward and watched the road as he drove. “I see it.” He slowed the SUV and pulled onto the drive that was overgrown with weeds. “I’d say this place isn’t occupied.”

Darkness prevented them from seeing anything in front of them. Jen peered out the side window. Shapes moved past them.

Will eased along the drive until he reached the end where a house appeared in front of them.

“What do we do now?” Will asked. Though he didn’t risk turning on the headlights, from what Jen could see of the place, it was little more than four walls and a partial roof.

“Pull behind and out of sight from the road. It’ll be warmer here than the house.”

Will eased through tall weeds behind the place and parked. “What do we think’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” Ben said. “But they’re doing everything they can to find us, and I don’t like how close they’re coming to the compound.”

Jen shivered and tucked in closer to her husband. Legion was just miles away from Strike Force headquarters. A lot too close for anyone’s comfort.

Chapter Twelve

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