Bennett’s army packed their gear and loaded up in the back of their transports. Peter watched helplessly as they yelled to each other to move out. He had no choice but to leave with them. He stared at Naomi for a long moment, the desert wind blowing his tan suit jacket and beige tie before he finally ducked into the back of a Humvee. Soon, all that was left of Peter and his demands was a cloud of dust and sand.

I gripped the ledge of the wall, relieved.

“You okay?” Naomi asked, touching the small of my back.

“Yeah. I’ve just never been in a standoff before,” I said.

Vincent slapped me on the back—hard. “You’ll get used to it.”

Aside from the lookouts, everyone climbed down off the wall, and the rest of the militia returned to their training.

Naomi and her team walked with me back to our cabin, the sun stifling hot and bearing down on us.

“Did you hear that?” Trex asked. “Vincent likes you. He doesn’t like anyone.”

“He likes family,” Naomi said.

“Where’s your mom?” I asked.

“She was down there,” Naomi said.

Trex pointed back down to the bottom. “Did you see the sniper on the other side of the wall with her rifle trained on Peter? That was Christine. No one fucks with Christine.”

“I didn’t. You’ll have to introduce us,” I said to Naomi.

“We’re having dinner there tonight if you feel up to it. How’re you doing?” she asked.

I took her hand in mine. “In disbelief that we just went toe to toe with the US military, but otherwise feeling strong.”

She smiled, leading me up the stairs and to the small dining table. The cabin was nice, a studio layout. The only room was the bathroom off the kitchen area. Naomi sat a glass of water in front of me, and Trex and Harbinger sat with us at the table while Kitsch, Martinez, and Sloan stood.

“Hate to say it, but that was close, Nomes,” Trex said. “Not sure how any of us can go back to the Springs. Darby’s going to be pissed.”

Naomi rested her chin on the heel of her hand. “Peter has federal agents waiting on him at the border. He’s broken too many laws to ignore. Not even his father can save him this time.”

Trex chuckled and sat back. “Well, it’s his own fault for underestimating you. He has no excuse.”

I took a sip of water, glancing around at Naomi’s friends. They didn’t seem fazed until Spenser and Kansas knocked then let themselves in, then they were all smiles discussing the varying scenarios that could’ve played out and how they would’ve handled each one.