The room was dark with the only light from outside. Not that there was anything in here to trip over. Just bare floor.

“Stand there a moment, Erica.” Down on one knee inside the door, he felt for the display controls and flipped it on. The light-muted screen was close to the floor to avoid stray bullets. The display split into several windows with the feeds from their outside cameras.

Fuck. In the dark night, he couldn’t tell how many black SUVs lined the road, but it looked like a lot.

Erica made a scared sound.

Keeping her busy would help.

“Let’s get you set up.” He donned one of the wireless intercom headsets. After handing another one to the young woman, he showed her the loopholes on the right side of the room. “Pick out the targets closest to you and fire away. After a few shots, move and shoot from a different slit.”

“Got it.” Her voice was shaky, but she knelt at a narrow opening that overlooked the dirt road.

The inter-house intercom dinged in his earpiece.

“People.” Gabe’s voice came through loud enough to be heard over the gunfire. “Fence is amped up to max.”

Bull snorted. Electric fencing spanned the gaps between each house and from the end houses to the lake. Normally, the zap was only strong enough to deter bear and moose, but the charge could be increased.

No one would survive climbing the fence today.

“Sound off, people,” Gabe ordered and started, “Ready at Gabe’s—Gabe and Audrey.”

Bull spoke, “Bull’s place is ready—Bull and Erica.”

“Ready at Hawk’s. Lillian and Dante,” Dante said.

“We got Caz’s. Knox and Chevy.”

“Here at Mako’s,” Kit said. “Kit and Sarah.”

Bull nodded. The Hermitage was as prepared as they could be.

Over at the front, Erica continued to fire, making small sounds as she did. Good woman.

A long screech of pain came from down below. Yeah, someone had tried to climb the electrified fence. The bastard would have some burns to show for it.

Another yell came from farther away. Probably Mako’s fence.

“Caz will watch for ground floor or lakeside incursions.” Gabe said. “In thirty seconds, I’ll flip on the flood lights. It’s a target-rich environment, team. Have yourselves some fun.”

Off to one side, Erica gave a choked laugh.

Spirits lifting slightly, Bull shook his head. Leave it to the old man to make a full-fledged attack sound like a light-hearted evening’s entertainment.

There was a reason Gabe was their leader.

Bull took up position at a horizontal slit on the room’s left side. “When the area’s lit up, shoot as fast as you can. They’ll be blinded.”

“Got it.” Erica moved to a new spot.