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“Get Jazz to safety,” a male voice barked. “You’ve got trouble coming your way.”
He didn’t bother to ask the identity of the caller. Even though he’d spoken with Brody McAlister only once, he recognized the man.
Going to his feet, he said, “How many?”
“My intel says at least ten. I’m counting on you to keep her safe, Quinn.”
The line went dead.
“Xavier, what’s wrong?”
Instead of answering Jazz, he looked at Serena. “We’ve got incoming.”
Her eyes wide with alarm, Serena turned to her father. “Code red, Pops.”
His face one of calm resolve, Ed surged to his feet and strode to the kitchen. In seconds, a loud whistle sounded through the house.
Serena turned to Xavier and Jazz. “That alert is set up in all the houses in the area. They’re all equipped with safe rooms. The vulnerable will go there. Those who are trained will be armed and ready.”
“How many are coming, and how much time do we have?” Jazz asked.
“At least ten,” Xavier said. “Don’t know how much time we?—”
The lights went out.
“Hold on,” Ed said. “Generator will kick in.”
Seconds later, the lights returned, revealing Serena’s parents, who both looked determined and angry.
“Mallory, grab your furbabies and get to the room.”
Without missing a beat, Mallory scooped up Rosco and Rusty. Ed pressed a kiss to his wife’s mouth and said, “See you soon, sweetheart.”
She turned and gave everyone a worried look and said, “Be careful.” Then she scooted toward the back of the house with her pets in her arms.
Xavier took Jazz by the shoulder. “Jazz?—”
“No, Xavier. Don’t even say it. These assholes are here because of me. No way am I going to lock myself up.”
He’d known he’d be facing resistance, but he had to say it. “You’re their target.”
“Yes, I am. And now they’re my target.” She raised her chin even higher and added, “I’m staying.”
“Okay, let’s not waste any more time,” Serena said. “Since they took out the power at the main station, we can figure they’re about seven minutes out.”
“You have weapons?” Xavier asked.
“Follow me,” Ed said.
Doing just that, he, Jazz, and Serena went through the family room into a small alcove. Ed removed a photo of his family from the wall, revealing a keypad. He punched in several numbers, and a part of the wall opened, revealing a large enclosure filled with enough weapons to arm a small army.
“Saddle up, boys and girls,” Ed said. “We’ve got some business to take care of.”
Grateful she was dressed in her favorite pair of worn jeans and her sneakers, Jazz took the pistol Serena handed her, checked the magazine, and then slid it into the holster she’d wrapped around her waist. The worry for everyone here pounded into her head. If she had never come here, none of this would have happened. She should have stayed at Xavier’s cabin. Whoever these people were, it was clear they wouldn’t mind killing to get to her. How many people would die because of her selfishness?
“Hey, Jazz,” Serena said gently. “Get that look off your face. This is not on you. Okay?”
She nodded because it would do no good to argue, but if anything happened to anyone, including any of the multitude of pets and animals in this amazing community, she would never forgive herself.