Page 27 of Unmasked Prophecy

“No,” Talon snaps. “You’re out of your fuckin’ minds if you think that’s happenin’.”

Knox narrows his eyes, his voice a low growl. “We send her in, we get her out fast. They’ll never know what hit ‘em.”

Talon’s jaw clenches. “They’ll know. You heard what she said—they’re already watchin’. You send her in, and you might as well put a bullet through her skull.”

I flinch.

“She got out once,” Zane argues. “She knows their routines. It’s the only way.”

“Not fuckin’ happening,” Talon bites out, his eyes hard. “We find another way.”

“Enough,” Wolfe barks, causing them all to stop. “Steel’s right, we ain’t sending her in there. They could kill her without so much as a word. Not worth the risk. We need another plan.”

Silence stretches, heavy and thick. I can feel the tension, the weight of their decision pressing down on me. I don’t want to go back in there, but I will, if it means Lily gets out alive. It isn’t the only way, though. There have to be other options.

“She’s just as likely to get caught out here as in there, Prez,” Kael says, his voice finally breaking the silence. “They already got eyes on us. They already know where she is.”

“I hear you,” Wolfe mutters.

“We find another way,” Talon growls. “Yeah, they’re watchin’. They’re waitin’. But we got the upper hand. We’re the ones they don’t know. We use that.”

Knox shakes his head. “It’s too risky, man. We don’t know enough about that fuckin’ place to have the upper hand.”

Talon’s voice is a low growl. “Then we find out.”

Kael leans back, his face firm. “You got somethin’ in mind?”

Talon’s eyes meet mine, and I see the determination there. The promise. “We get the kid out first. We use the old lady, the one watchin’ the kids.”

“Miriam,” I murmur.

He nods. “We make it look like they got a convert. Someone they don’t expect. We hit them from the inside.”

Zane tilts his head, considering. “You think that’ll work?”

Talon’s gaze is steady. “I know it will.”

The others exchange looks.

Wolfe looks to me. “You think she’ll help us?”

I honestly don’t know if she will, but she’s the only person we might just be able to manipulate. “Miriam goes out once a week. Supply runs for the school. It’s the only time she’s away from the compound, and they trust her. If we can make contact with her then, she might listen. She might help.”

Wolfe nods, holding my gaze. “You sure about this?”

“It’s the only person I can think of that might do it.”

Zane nods. “Then let’s fuckin’ do it.”

“How do you want to play it?” Wolfe continues.

Knox keeps his arms crossed but directs his gaze to me. “We know when she leaves?”

“Fridays,” I say. “Always Fridays. Usually around noon. Sometimes she’s got someone with her, but it’s always the same person.”

“How far does she go?” Talon asks, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Usually to the stores on the edge of town. She tries to be quick, because they don’t like her being gone long.”

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