Page 18 of Echos and Empires (After #3)

NINE

“Maybe when I’m back, we can get some target practice in,” Chris called over his shoulder seconds before tugging the door shut.

If Bash responded, he didn’t hear it, but it was fine. Whether they practiced or not after the council meeting wasn’t a huge deal. It wasn’t like they were shooting their guns often now.

The crunch of his boots on the dirt was the only sound.

Until it wasn’t.

Chris paused, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun holstered at his hip. He scanned the surrounding foliage, alert and ready for any potential threat.

But there was nothing. Just the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze and the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore.

Chris let out a heavy breath, his shoulders relaxing as he realized it was simply his imagination playing tricks on him. He resumed his pace, his military training kicking in as he carefully assessed his surroundings.

“Chris!” Liam burst in front of him, nearly slamming into him. His eyes were wide behind his glasses, breath coming fast.

Chris grabbed Liam’s shoulders to steady him. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but we have a problem. A big one.” Liam glanced around furtively before leaning in close. “I just saw Victor Warrington. He was meeting with some men, interior of the island, about twenty-five minutes from here.”

A chill ran down Chris’s spine. There was no way he’d heard Liam correctly.

His hands tightened on Liam’s shoulders.

“Victor? As in the asshole you think launched an attack against a ship full of innocent women and children?” His blood damn near boiled as his rage grew.

“What kind of men? What were they doing?”

“I couldn’t get close enough to hear everything, but...Chris, they had weapons. Serious firepower.” Liam shook his head, clearly shaken. “And the way Victor was talking to them, it was like he was giving orders. Like he has some serious involvement on the island.”

“That son of a bitch,” Chris growled, rage rising in his chest. “He’s behind all of this. The attack, everything. So how did he get his god-damned hands into the island? What did he offer the leaders?”

Liam shrugged grimly. “What are we going to do? I’ve been working on an escape route in case we needed it.”

“You’ve been doing what?” Chris was taken back that Liam did something in secret, that wasn’t who he was.

“Everything felt off after hearing that conversation about Victor. I know you said don’t worry, but I did. I worried and I mapped routes we can take to leave or hide.”

Part of him wanted to snap at Liam for keeping such a secret, another part wanted to praise him for protecting their family when Chris clearly hadn’t.

“That’s a conversation for another time, but for now, we’re going to stop him.” Chris’s voice was hard as steel. His eyes narrowed. “Before he puts Emma or anyone else in danger. We’re done running.”

He released Liam and started back down the path with determined strides. Victor had no idea who he was messing with. But he was about to find out.

Chris’s mind raced as he processed Liam’s revelation, a sinking feeling settling in his gut.

The man was not just complicit in the attack on the ship, but actively orchestrating something sinister on the island.

The implications were staggering, and Chris a wave of guilt washed over him.

He had led his team here, believing it to be a safe refuge, only to discover they had walked into the lion’s den.

Chris’s thoughts turned to Emma. Beautiful, resilient Emma, who had already endured so much in this harsh new world.

The idea of her being in danger, of any harm coming to her because of his decisions, made his heart clench painfully in his chest. He had sworn to protect her, to keep her safe no matter the cost, and now it seemed he had unwittingly brought her directly into the path of a madman.

Fucking Again.

If Victor had the resources to launch an attack on a ship, what else was he capable of? And what did he want with the island and its inhabitants? The thought of Emma and the others being caught in the crosshairs of whatever nefarious scheme Victor had planned made Chris’s blood run cold.

He stopped abruptly, his jaw clenching so hard blackness sprang into the corners of his vision.

Chris wouldn’t let Victor get anywhere near Emma.

He had fought too hard, sacrificed too much, to let some power-hungry bastard destroy the fragile peace they had found.

Chris knew he had to act, to find a way to uncover the truth and stop Victor before it was too late.

“We need more information,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “We can’t confront him directly, not yet. He’s too well- connected, too powerful.” He snarled. “No, we’re going to go to this council meeting and demand answers. If our leaders are as shocked as we are, then we begin planning at once.”

“And if they’re not?” Liam whispered, his eyes meeting Chris’s.

“Then we’re going to dismantle the entire damn chain of command. The running is over. Let’s go, a council meeting starts in fifteen, probably less now that we’ve stood here talking.”

Chris stormed down the path with Liam close on his heels.

The implications of Victor’s actions weighed heavily on him, a sickening knot forming in his gut.

Emma’s face flashed through his thoughts, her safety and well-being his top priority.

He had to protect her, protect their entire group, from whatever twisted game Victor was playing.

“He won’t be able to weasel his way out of it with an audience,” Liam spoke as he caught up, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “We’ll make him answer for what he’s done.”

With a nod, Chris resumed his purposeful stride. “We’re getting you surgery if this all pans out.”

“ A simple, ‘Liam, thanks for this information,’ would have been my preferred response.”

The council room was buzzing with activity when Chris and Liam arrived.

Community leaders milled about, engaged in hushed conversations.

William was at his place off to the side of the stage, ready to take the meeting notes.

Chris scanned the room, his eyes landing on Victor, seated at the head of the table.

He’d know the man anywhere. Prior to the bombs he face had been splashed on every fucking media type there was.

None of it ever good. Yet, there he was, sitting on the fucking council like he belonged there.

So they knew. They all fucking knew.

His hands clenched so tightly the bite of his short nails stung his palms. That man had tried to murder hundreds of people and yet he sat there? Did he just offer the island something after learning of their ship months back?

The man looked as composed as ever, a polite smile on his face as he greeted the other council members.

Chris’s anger nearly stole his ability to breathe. How was he going to sit here and remain calm? This was the same group who welcomed him to the council because of his leadership skills, and now he had to sit there with him?

Could there be a shot he hadn’t known what the ship was and just thought he attacked a group who stole a military vehicle?

There were so many more questions than answers, but Chris knew he couldn’t sit up there.

Not as fury threatened to destroy the very fiber of his being.

Instead, he took a seat with the non-council members, his gaze never leaving Victor.

The man’s calm demeanor only fueled his suspicion.

How could he sit there so casually, knowing the chaos he had caused? The lives he had put at risk?

Beside him, Liam shifted in his chair, his own unease palpable. Chris glanced at his friend, grateful for his steadfast presence. Together, they would get to the bottom of this. They had to, for the sake of everyone they held dear.

“You think they’re going to let you sit here?”

“I didn’t ask them, did I?”

As the meeting began, Chris took a deep breath, steeling himself for the confrontation to come. Victor may have thought he had the upper hand, but he was about to learn the true meaning of loyalty and the lengths Chris would go to protect those he loved.

“Thank you all for coming,” Harvy, the island’s head farmer, began.

Chris stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.

All eyes in the room turned to him, but he focused solely on Victor.

“I demand an explanation for the attack on the ship carrying women and children to this very island,” he said, his voice stern and unwavering.

“Why were our people put in danger? What are you doing here?”

Victor leaned back in his chair, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the tension in the room.

“I don’t believe we’ve met, but I’ve of course, been briefed on the military hero who joined us.

Chris, I understand your concern, but there are factors at play that you may not be aware of.

” He paused, as if considering his next words carefully.

“The government discovered rumors of the island. Thanks to the supplies my money brings in, there are a few ships that arrive and one was essentially caught. I overheard a discussion about a rumored ship that came to an island where women and children were abundant.”

Chris narrowed his eyes. “And sinking the ship was the solution? Risking the lives of our people? Killing women and children who are so damn vital to the world? Nevermind how you knew in the first place.” He itched to pull out his firearm and level it at the man, wanting to see if his answer changed.

“It was a horrible price, but one I had to pay to keep the government at bay.” Victor’s tone remained even, almost sympathetic.

“I falsely reported back to them, claiming our men had succeeded, even though I knew they had failed when they did not return. I assume I have you blame for their loss of life?”