Page 54 of Seaside Strangers
“If they pull it off,” Sean continued, “there’ll be arrests across the board. Samson said he’ll call as soon as it’s done.”
“Good.” If Hernandez was taken out of the equation, their odds of keeping Moriah safe went up.
His attention shifted back to the plan taking shape. T3 was on his way back down to Whisper with Troy “Trouble” Mason, Rigby “Peanut” Banks, and additional supplies.
Banks would be the decoy. At five foot six and one-seventy of solid muscle, he was smaller than most SEALs, but that had never slowed him down. He was one of the toughest men KC knew—quick, disciplined, and able to adapt on the fly. Because of his size, he’d taken on the role of a woman before when the situation called for it. With Moriah’s description, a wig, and the right clothes, he could pass well enough at a distance.
KC had already told T3 to brief him.
It wouldn’t be perfect, but it didn’t have to be.
He trusted his team without question. They’d proven themselves time and again.
Now he was counting on them for more than that.
Moriah mattered to him. There was no denying it anymore. And once she was safe, he intended to make sure she knew exactly where she stood with him—and pray that she felt the same.
His thoughts cut off when his phone rang. Brian’s name popped up on the screen.
“What’s your ETA?”
“Less than five,” Brian said, then ended the call.
He slipped the phone into his pocket and looked at the others. “Showtime.”
The three Malones moved with Moriah downthe drive, keeping close on either side of her so she stayed shielded without it looking forced. Sean made no effort to conceal the weapon at his hip. Jinx had been left inside, so he wouldn’t get in the way if things didn’t go as planned.
The late-morning air carried the tang of salt on a steady breeze, cooler than the day before. A few vehicles rolled past on the road—pickup trucks, a couple of SUVs with out-of-state plates—likely part-time residents or early-season visitors coming and going. From beyond the dunes, the steady crash of waves reached them, a constant backdrop. Overhead, a blanket of gray clouds muted the sun, keeping the temperature down and the shoreline mostly empty.
An unmarked state vehicle rolled up a moment later and angled across the drive. Brian stepped out, his presence adding another layer between Moriah and anyone watching, while still leaving her visible enough to be identified. “They pulled over to the curb about a block and a half back.”
Sean had the vantage point to watch without turning and drawing attention, so KC kept his focus forward and shifted his weight slightly, staying close to Moriah in case he needed to cover her. “Let them get a good look.”
They fell into easy conversation, nothing in their posture suggesting anything out of the ordinary. While they waited, KC filled Brian in on the plan, going over each step so there were no gaps.
When they were finished there, Uncle Dan would go on ahead to his apartment to wait for Moriah while Brian returned to work for a few hours before coming back. The others would remain at the house until KC’s teammates arrived.
After creating a diversion, they’d move Moriah out of the area along the beach on an ATV that T3 was bringing. Peanut would come in the same way to take her place. It wasn’t perfect, but it would work.
Once Moriah was safely hidden above the hardware store, Sean would make a show of leaving the beach house before hooking up with Brian later. After that, T3 and Trouble would come back in from the beach with the last of their gear and help set the trap. From that point on, it came down to patience and timing—waiting for the men from Illinois to make their move and walk straight into a trap.
As KC finished laying it out, Sean rubbed his chin with his knuckle and chuckled, as if something funny had been said. “They’re making their drive-by. Moriah, keep your eyes on Dan. Smile. Don’t react.”
“Okay.”
The word came out soft, edged with a tremor. KC closed his hand around hers, gave a brief squeeze, then let go.
They kept the conversation going—just a few family members chatting, posture relaxed, nothing drawing attention as the Explorer cruised past at a slow, deliberate pace, sticking to the posted speed limit. Moriah went still beside him, and KC felt it immediately, the slight shift in her body even as she kept her gaze forward and forced herself not to look.
The vehicle eased past the driveway on the opposite side of the road.
KC let a few more seconds pass, giving them time to take it all in. That was long enough.
The group broke apart naturally. Brian climbed into his vehicle while KC, Sean, and their uncle walked back up the driveway with Moriah between them. After retrieving Jinx, Dan also left.
Inside the house, the shift was immediate.
Moriah’s composure slipped the second the door closed behind Dan. She wrapped her arms around KC’s waist, holding on tighter than she had outside.
