Outside, more vehicles roared up. So many more. Dread filled her.

She’d led the fanatics right to the Hermitage.

To her son.

The shaking inside her grew. She tried to move—and couldn’t. One hand was clamped so tightly onto the steering wheel her fingers ached.

The back of the van opened. “Ladies, I’ll get y’all released in a jiffy. I have scissors here.” Dante’s gruff Oklahoma twang was distinctive. The vehicle bounced as he climbed in. “If you’re hurt, tell me. If you’re sober enough, we need some help to shoot those bastards.”

“You tickle-brained fustilarian, let me up.” Lillian sounded spitting mad. “I’ll shoot the boils off those mammering, beetle-headed maggot-pies. If they—”

A gasp and squeak interrupted the diatribe. Kit heard someone getting kissed.

Dante had his woman back.

Snipping noises sounded. The van rocked as the women climbed out. At least one was crying.

“Dante, can’t help just yet,” Tina said as the freed women grouped together at the side of the van. “Way too much to drink. I’m still seeing double.”

“And me,” EmmaJean admitted. “Give us time though. We’ll help.”

“Come along. We’ll get y’all sorted.” As if he heard gunfire every day, Dante led most of the women out of the garage.

Move, Kit told herself. I need to move.

Her body wasn’t listening.

“Hey.” Audrey opened the driver’s door. “Are you all right?”

“I can’t stop shaking.” Kit pulled in a breath and pried her fingers from the steering wheel. After she managed to slide out, Audrey hugged her hard.

“You saved us, my valorous girl.” Lillian took Audrey’s place for a quick hug.

Audrey winced as the hammering noise of bullets increased. “Dante says Regan and Aric are safe down in the tunnels.”

“Which means it’s our job to ensure the ill-bred hedge-pigs don’t get in.” Lillian pointed at the door. “Weapons, my girls. We will destroy those fusty carbuncles.”

Audrey nodded. “We will.”

Kit’s mouth tightened. I hate guns. But it didn’t matter. No matter what, she’d do what she must to protect her son and everyone else here. She straightened her spine and told her knees to stop shaking. “Let’s go find us some of those guns.”

“JJ.” Caz’s voice came across the police car’s internal speakers. “Do not come back to the Hermitage.”

“What? Why?” JJ had just pulled into town, planning to switch cars and head home. “Am I needed out at the roadhouse?”

“No! Don’t go there, either.”

What were those noises in the background? She stiffened. That was gunfire. “Caz, what is going on?”

“Nabera and his men tried to capture the women at the roadhouse. The women got away—and are here.”

JJ stared at the speakers.