Page 25 of Twilight Tactics

“Cute.”

She cut him a look and he narrowed his gaze at her. Oh. She was sort of serious. That was concerning. He was a federal agent, and he’d seen his share of trouble when it came to people being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And this was the very definition of those two things. “This isn’t a good idea, Elena. We should turn around and get some backup.”

“I told you not to come. You go back. I’ll be fine. These were my people at one time.”

“No they weren’t,” he said, his hushed words for her ears only. “They were never your people.” And like he was going to leave her. His hand drifted toward his weapon.

“Don’t,” she said in a quiet whisper. “Don’t do that.”

He moved his hand to rest it on top of the saddle horn. “What was the signal?”

“Two quick flashes of light.”

“They were signaling you?”

“No, one guard was signaling to another to go warn the others at the compound we’re headed that way.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier just to text?”

She shot him a side-eyed look. “No phones are allowed. They have sophisticated signal jamming equipment. And that includes satellite phones as well. They leave everything turned on 24/7. Except when one of the leaders needs to communicate with the outside world.”

“To stay off the grid.”

“Completely off.”

“Wow.”

“I know. It’s very extreme, but this is what they do.”

“And they also shoot trespassers who ignore their warning signs?”

“According to the rumors.”

“So why are we riding into this without backup?”

“Because I need to get inside the compound and this is the only way I know how to do it.”

“How? You just said they know we’re here.”

“They do, but they don’t knowwhywe’re here.”

“Whyarewe here?”

Her jaw tightened, then loosened. “Because I need to know if I saw my sister in town the other day.”

“You think your sister isstill here?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen Iris in a very long time. I’ve wanted to look for her and at the same time ... haven’t.”

Elena had kept up the dialogue with Sully, but she was keenly aware of her surroundings. And when the “shift” came, the awareness they weren’t alone, it was time to face those who didn’t welcome their intrusion.

She hadn’t been lying about most of them not wanting trouble with the law, but there were others who held to the ideologies ingrained in them since birth that outsiders onlyhad one purpose—to take away their choices. To judge them and keep them from living the life they’d chosen.

The only problem was ... some hadn’t chosen it. She couldn’t help wondering how many were in that number. How many other children—and possibly adults—wanted to leave and make their own choices.

“I’m Elen—Eleanor. Shorty’s daughter,” she called out. “I need to speak to him. Is he here? Or Iris Higgins?”

Leaves rustled in the distance, and Sully visibly tensed beside her, his hands flexing on the reins.