Maybe, with all of them, they could come up with a plan and stop him for good.

On Sunday night, Gabe waited as Audrey chatted with Regina in the municipal building lobby.

It’d been a difficult day.

First, he, his brothers, and Audrey had hammered out plans…because she’d agreed to stay. Thank fuck.

Spyros wouldn’t forget about her, and she couldn’t stay hidden forever, not in this interconnected world. Not even in Alaska. No matter where she went, sooner or later, the bastard would find her. No one could stay on guard forever.

It would be best if Spyros came when they were alert and prepared. Audrey had agreed, but had taken the “prepared” idea a step further.

She’d asked him for a knife and a pistol. Jesus.

Maybe he was infected with Mako’s pessimism because he’d figured she needed to be able to defend herself if the shit hit the fan. He gave her his ankle-holster backup weapon and worked with her all afternoon until she’d proven she could mostly hit what she aimed at.

Caz must have felt the same. He gave her a knife and dug out one of his old arm sheaths from when he was a skinny teenager.

Watching her buckle on weapons had given Gabe an icy chill in his gut.

He hated how much danger she was in. She was…everything, and he’d go through anyone or anything that would hurt her. He felt the same about his brothers, but this was even more. She wasn’t a hotshot ex-military combat vet; she was a sweet, far-too-fucking-innocent, librarian.

And he loved her more than he loved living.

It would’ve been good to know exactly who they would face. Dennison said Spyros might or might not come with a team.

Gabe frowned. Once upon a time, he’d been on a SEAL team. They’d been as tight as men sharing blood and battle could be, but over the years, they’d scattered. It would’ve been good to have them at his back.

Then again, he now had his very first team—his brothers. His mood lifted. Considering the end of the parking lot fight, he knew Caz’s skills hadn’t declined.

If the town wouldn’t help, Gabe and his brothers would manage.

As Gabe walked over to the reception desk, Regina scowled and asked him, “What’s the world coming to when a murderer gets free like that?”

Ah, Audrey had told Regina about Spyros.

“I agree.” As a thought occurred to him, Gabe’s jaw tightened. Silently, he tucked an arm around Audrey and motioned for Regina to walk with them to the town meeting room.

Audrey glanced up. “You look even unhappier than earlier.”