Page 9 of Sanctuary

A ghost of a smile flickered across his face. “Good. Now, here’s the plan...”

As Connor outlined his strategy, I felt a strange mix of terror and exhilaration. This was it.

Declan cleared his throat, interrupting Connor’s explanation. “Hate to break up the session, but we need to move. They’re getting impatient at the gate.”

“Can’t we just tell them to take a hike?” Connor asked.

Declan snorted. “We don’t even know who they are. Radley can’t get a straight answer out of them.”

“Fine,” Connor said. “I’ll go to the gate and see what they want. Who knows, it might not have anything to do with you Mia.”

“What if they shoot you?” I asked, my heart in my throat.

“They won’t shoot me.” His brows snapped together as he looked at Declan. “Will they?”

“It’s possible I suppose,” Declan shrugged. “To hell with it. We will let them come to the house. Consider it your training.”

Declan walked over to a panel on the wall and pressed a button and said, “Radley, open the gate.”

“Yes sir!” Radley replied.

Relief flashed over Connor’s face. “Thanks,” he muttered as he looked like he was about to throw up.

“Come on,” Declan said, as he headed out the door, motioning for Connor to follow.

I watched from behind the curtain as they strode out to the sidewalk, their postures tense but determined. My fingers twisted anxiously in the hem of my shirt as a set of headlights made its way down the hill from the gates, and I ducked back further.

The vehicle stopped and three men got out. Even from a distance, I could tell they were armed. My heart raced as I strained to hear their conversation.

“We’re looking for someone,” a gruff voice announced. “A girl. Brown hair, green eyes.”

Connor’s voice carried clearly across the yard. “Sorry, fellas. No one with that description here. Maybe try the next place over?”

The leader, a tall man stepped closer to Connor and the porch lights illuminated the scar on his face. “We have reason to believe she’s here. And we’re not leaving until we find her.”

Declan’s hand moved to the gun at his hip. “That sounds an awful lot like a threat, friend. I’d choose your next words carefully. Considering you’re trespassing.”

Tension crackled in the air as the two groups faced off. I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable explosion of violence.

But then Connor did something unexpected. He laughed.

“Look, I get it. You’ve got a job to do. But so do we. And our job is protecting the people here. So how about this - you tell us who you’re looking for, and if it checks out, we’ll help you find her. Deal?”

The leader hesitated, clearly thrown off by Connor’s approach. After a long moment, he nodded.

“Good. But not out here. We’ll talk inside,” Declan said, as he turned towards the house.

As the group followed him and Connor, I scrambled back, my mind racing as I made a beeline for the kitchen, I rounded the corner and flattened my back against the wall and hid behind a huge, planted palm tree. If I didn’t move, they wouldn’t see me, but I could see them through the leaves.

As I stood there, I wondered what Declan was thinking when he suggested they talk in the house. And more importantly, what was I going to do now? Holding my hand over my mouth, I strained to hear if they were saying anything as footsteps sounded on the marble tile of the foyer.

Connor spoke first, his voice calm and steady. “How can we help you?”

So much for Declan taking the lead. I just hoped Connor didn’t screw it up.

The leader stepped forward. “We’re looking for someone. A girl. We have reason to believe she’s here.”

Declan half shook his head. “You already said that bud.”

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