Page 153 of Fighting With Light

“I probably shouldn’t say this, but that’s hot.”

She rolls her eyes. “What do we know?” she asks.

I lead her down the stairs to the kitchen, and Clarence already has a vest on giving orders to a group of three other men on our team. Mom sits at the little cafe table off to the side, sipping her coffee. The color has returned to her skin, and the anger is sitting on her like a set of the Queen’s jewels—heavy.

Aelia grips my forearm and leans in to whisper in my ear.

“What did that text say?”

More gunshots ring out and I really don’t like that my mom is just sitting theredrinking coffeeeven though there is a pistol laying next to the saucer on the table.

I glance at Mom before telling Aelia what my father said.

I cough, clearing my throat because even thinking about it hurts. “He said…” I don’t even want to repeat the words. “He said hewould make us pay, and he’s done playing games. He’s coming to kill me and my brothers, hang our bodies on the fences for the birds to eat, and he’s going to…take Mom, you, and Cordelia and…” I choke on the words I can’t say.

I shake my head.

“It’s okay, I’ve got the picture,” she whispers.

I nod, and she kisses my cheek. It won’t happen. I won’t let it. I will cut his head off before he touches any of them.

“Do we know who they are?” Aelia asks.

The first rule of war, know your enemy.

Clarence gives Aelia a look, and I don’t blame him. “Yes, ma’am, we ran facial recognition on some men seen getting off the plane at a private airport about twenty miles north of us. They have been linked to a group from Great Britain, which is why my contact notified me.”

“Is it Cameron?” I ask Clarence.

“We’re not sure, but he’s not with them, though. We know that much,” he says.

Aelia nods, locking down her emotions.

“Where is Emerson?” I ask Mom.

“On his way,” she says.

“And Kai?” I ask.

“They need to stay away from all of this, Liam, you know that. They’re on their way to another state for a freestyle competition. We can’t risk them.”

I agree, it’s exactly what I would have done.

Emerson is the one that sets up the game plan, but he’s not here yet. A few more gunshots ring off in the distance. We need to stop talking and end this.

“Where do we have people?” I ask.

“We expect them to come from both the front and the back of the property. Snipers are on the roof and two teams are on the ground. We have the house covered and…” Clarence glances at Mom, then he leans forward.

“I asked her to go to the safe room, but she refused,” he says quietly.

Mom slams her tea cup on the saucer and stands. “Clarence, I can hear you. I’m not going into the damn safe room because if that asshole shows up at my home, I’m going to put a bullet through him.”

I glance at Clarence and he stands up straight. “Mom—”

“Do notMomme, Liam Grant Coldwell, I know what I said, and I’m not going.”

Aelia giggles next to me. “Grant?”