Page 33 of Secret Hope (Hope Landing: New Recruits #5)

Cassidy watched her makeshift team through the flickering light of the ancient monitors. Spencer had finally stopped shivering, though he kept rubbing his arms through his dry shirt. Sophia methodically checked their supplies. And Kenji...

Kenji stood like a coiled spring, his entire body radiating the need to act, to protect, to control a situation that had spiraled far beyond anyone's control.

Two bodies already. Marcus Holloway. Van Der Merwe. Both killed because they'd crossed paths with Xavier Vega. The weight of their deaths pressed against her chest, making each breath feel like work.

No, she told herself firmly. Calculate the odds. Play the hand. Mourn later—if there is a later.

"Go hunting. I like the sound of that, K-Man." Spencer perked up slightly. "Very action hero. But, uh, how exactly do we hunt someone with unlimited resources and professional killers?"

"By being smarter than we are strong," Sophia fired off an answer.

Kenji nodded hard. The fierce energy made her grateful he wasn't her enemy. "Exactly. He's got multiple escape routes off this island—helicopter, boats, probably others we don't know about. We find them and disable them."

"You're saying we trap him here with us?" Cassidy couldn't help her incredulous tone.

Kenji grinned, his expression more intense than happy. "Oh, yeah."

"Right, because cornering a dangerous predator always ends well," Sophia muttered, but she was leaning over the maps with obvious interest. "Though I suppose we don't have many alternatives."

"We do have one advantage," Cassidy mused. "He thinks we're scattered, terrified, reactive. He doesn't know we're together, and he definitely doesn't expect us to go on the offensive."

"So we use his overconfidence against him." Kenji's approval sent warmth through her chest. "Classic misdirection."

"Like cards," Spencer said, understanding dawning on his face. "Make him think you've got nothing when you're holding aces."

"Exactly like poker." Cassidy felt that familiar focus settling over her—the same clarity that had won her millions at tournament tables. "But first, we need intelligence. Where are Vega's people? What are they doing?"

Kenji was already working the old security system, coaxing images from the ancient monitors. "There—main building, third floor. Two-man team conducting room-by-room searches."

The well-armed figures moved through the guest corridors, checking each room. Even through the grainy, flickering footage, their professionalism was obvious.

Kenji studied the patterns. "They're not just hunting us. They're securing exit routes. Making sure Vega can leave when he's ready."

"Which means he's planning to run," she concluded. "As soon as the weather breaks."

"And after he kills us," Spencer added helpfully, then winced. "Sorry. Not helping."

"No, you're right." Cassidy straightened, decision crystallizing. "He can't leave witnesses. Van Der Merwe knew too much, so he's dead. We know too much, so we're next. Then he disappears into the storm and reinvents himself somewhere else."

"Ace plan for him," Sophia said. "Terrible for us."

"Unless we disrupt it." Cassidy turned to face her unlikely team—Spencer still hugging himself for warmth, Sophia competent in ways that raised questions, Kenji solid and protective even in crisis.

"Copy that," Kenji agreed. "We'll have to work fast, take advantage of the storm. We should split up, take out his escape routes simultaneously. Force him to come to us instead of hunting us room by room."

"Split up?" Spencer's voice cracked slightly. "Have you never seen a horror movie? Splitting up is how people die."

"This isn't a movie, Spence," Kenji said. "Staying together is how we all die at once."

The room fell silent except for the equipment's electronic hum and the storm's muffled fury. Through the reinforced walls, she could hear things breaking—windows, trees, possibly the resort's beautiful facade being torn away.

"What exactly did you have in mind?" Sophia asked.

Cassidy caught something in her tone—not quite military bearing, but definitely someone used to tactical discussions.

Kenji moved to the schematics, his finger tracing routes through the resort. "Spencer, you know the marina better than any of us. Can you disable the boats?"

"I... yeah, probably. Fuel lines, electrical systems. I know where everything is."

"Good. But you're not going alone." Kenji glanced at Sophia. "You comfortable with marine operations?"

"Comfortable enough," Sophia said with that careful neutrality that suggested significant understatement. "I can keep watch while Spencer works."

"Perfect." Kenji turned to Cassidy. "You and I will take the helicopter pad. It's more exposed, more dangerous—I'll need backup I can trust."

Cassidy felt something shift in her chest at the words. After their argument, she'd expected him to try leaving her behind. Instead, he was choosing to keep her close.

"When do we move?" she asked.

"Fifteen minutes," Kenji said, checking his watch again. "Gives us time to gear up, review the routes one more time. The storm's hitting peak intensity—maximum chaos, maximum cover."

"Right then." Sophia was already dividing supplies into tactical loadouts. "Spencer, you'll need tools. There should be a maintenance kit in those lockers."

As Spencer rummaged through the equipment, Cassidy moved closer to Kenji. "Thank you," she said quietly. "For not trying to sideline me."

His jaw tightened. "I still don't like it. But you were right—we need to get everyone out alive. And you've proven you can handle yourself under pressure."

"Was that a compliment?"

"Statement of fact." But his eyes softened slightly. "Just... stay close. Follow my lead. And if things go sideways?—"

"We adapt," she finished. "Like we have been all along."

He nodded, then turned to address the group. "Comms will be sketchy in this weather, but try to maintain radio contact. If you can't reach us, proceed with the mission. We'll rendezvous back here in forty-five minutes."

"And if we're not back?" Spencer asked, trying to sound casual despite the tools shaking slightly in his hands.

"Then you get to the highest ground you can find and wait for the storm to pass," Kenji said firmly. "Knight Tactical will come looking once the weather clears."

The confidence in his voice was reassuring, even if Cassidy suspected it was partly performance. They were four civilians—well, three civilians and whatever Sophia really was—against a private army. The odds were laughable.

Good thing she'd built her entire life on beating laughable odds.

"Let's move," Kenji said. "Time to show Vega what happens when you corner desperate people."

As they gathered their makeshift weapons and supplies, Cassidy sent up a silent prayer. Lord, I know this seems insane. But You've brought us this far. Please see us through.

The ancient monitors flickered one last time, showing Vega's men still searching, still unaware that their prey had decided to bite back.

Time to flip the script.

Time to hunt.