She hated backing down, had no choice. In the distance, the sirens were wailing. The police were close. She would let them handle things from here. She led Raya back inside the McDonald’s to wait for the officers. Becca could feel Mo’s probing gaze on her, but she wasn’t afraid. They’re coming for you, she thought with a smile. They’re coming for all of you.

MO

MO

Mo couldn’t believe that stupid bitch came here, that she thought she would ruin their sacred space like that. This woman thought she could intimidate Mo. It took all her self-restraint not to tell her exactly what happened to Ash. “We made her beg for her life and left her to die in the streets.”

God, there was nothing Mo wanted more than to wipe that smug, constipated look off Becca’s face. As Becca walked away, Vic grumbled in Mo’s ear. “We shouldn’t let this bitch walk away. Let me take care of her.”

Mo clocked Becca, rushing back toward the restaurant, her threat about the police lingering. This was definitely a hiccup in Mo’s plan, but she saw things more clearly than Vic and the others. That was her gift. She understood that this woman worked in law enforcement. She wasn’t stupid enough to challenge them without knowing the police were en route. There wasn’t time to run, that much was clear. Mo already knew that everything was going to change—the Tribe as they knew it would cease to exist. The most important thing was preserving their legacy.

She eyed her kiddos, all six of them, staring at her with wide, trusting eyes. Mo wasn’t going to sugarcoat things. That wouldn’t do anyone any good.

“We all know the things we did were righteous. Our daily struggles have challenged us, but we’re stronger because we’re in this together. The world is crumbling. It won’t be long before the life we lead is the only way. Not everyone is strong enough to survive these hardships we’ve endured. All of you are. You’ve proven that. And every single one of us understands what’s coming, but you know that change frightens people. That’s why they want to stop us. Stop me. I may be locked up. Or even killed.”

Her words activated everyone, a terrified murmur spreading through the group. “Then we leave. Let’s go now. We can build our future somewhere else,” Vic said.

“Let’s do it,” Kelsey chimed in.

“How about San Diego? Or Phoenix?” Andrea suggested.

They were talking over one another, making all kinds of plans. Mo whistled to silence them. “We don’t have time for that. I need you all to listen and focus. I’m going to turn myself in. I’ll take the burden off all of you and confess to everything.”