Two more of their men hung back, keeping themselves on the far side of the vehicles. One of them had an assault rifle in his hands. He moved a step to his right, then bent forward and put the barrel on the hood, its sights trained on Destiny.
Destiny, feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on her, wished she could crawl back inside the truck and hide.
But she had to lead and lead now, before this meet-and-greet went sideways.
All it would take was one flinch at the wrong time.
Especially with all the firepower in sight and the blood smears on the visitors.
There were so many variables to consider.
So many heartbeats racing out of control.
If they somehow managed to accomplish their goals without anyone getting hurt, it would be a miracle.
Destiny held her hands out to her side and stepped forward, using the slowest step she could muster.
Flipside and Sawtooth moved with her.
Shotgun hung back.
“Thank you all for coming,” Destiny said.
“No sudden moves,” the burly woman said.
“Fuck that, how about you people hold still. And identify yourselves,” Sawtooth said, holding the rifle steady. “And what’s with all the blood?”
“If we lower our weapons, will you lower yours?” the frizzy-haired girl asked.
“Never gonna happen,” Sawtooth shot back.
“Easy, Sawtooth. Easy,” Destiny said. “Everyone, please, just take it slow. We’ll get through this. But first, we have to find a way to trust each other.”
Flipside tugged on Destiny’s arm and whispered in her ear. “I would start by making the big guy put down his swords.”
Destiny nodded, then turned her attention to the visitors. “First, how about Gigantor over there putting down his swords.”
Ms. Frizzy Hair nodded at the masked man, making Destiny wonder if the youngest member of their group was the person in charge.
Yet the burly woman had the stance and the hawk-like eyes of a seasoned leader, so she wasn’t sure.
Masked Man removed his swords from their sheaths and put them on the ground.
“Now it’s your turn,” Frizzy said, motioning in the direction of Sawtooth.
Destiny peered over at Sawtooth. “Okay, do it.”
Sawtooth shifted his feet, making it appear he was standing on hot coals. “No way. Not until they identify themselves and put their shit down. They asked for this meet, remember? They need to go first, Destiny.”
Destiny looked at the burly woman. “Please. Just do as he asks. Otherwise, we’ll never get through this.”
Burly Woman turned her focus to Frizzy and held her gaze.
Frizzy nodded.
Burly stepped forward, holstering her weapon in the process. “I’m Security Chief Krista Carr.” She nodded in the direction of the big man wearing all the leather. “That’s Nomad.”
“Nomad? What kind of name is that?” Sawtooth asked, his fingers gripping and releasing the rifle.
Destiny pointed a finger to her chest, wanting to take the focus off Sawtooth and his overcharged adrenaline. “I’m Destiny.”
Krista nodded, then continued, turning to the side and holding out a hand toward Frizzy.
The girl stepped forward before Krista could announce her name. She wiped the hair away from her face, even though the breeze was fighting her efforts. “I’m Summer.”
Destiny glanced at Flipside with a puzzled look, hoping he would remember the story she told him from long ago.
Flipside only shrugged, so she wasn’t sure if he did.
Destiny turned her attention back to the girl with the endless frizz. “I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?”
“Summer.”
“And your last name?”
“Lane.”
Destiny couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. “Summer Lane?”
“Yes, that’s what I said. What are you, deaf?”
“You wouldn’t happen to be from Tucson, Arizona, would ya?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact,” Summer said, her tone cautious. “Home of the Titan II Missile and the Arizona Wildcats.”
“Goddamn desert rats,” Sawtooth said. “I knew it.”
“Not anymore,” Krista said.
Sawtooth’s tone turned even more serious than before. “What does that mean?”
“It means it’s no longer a desert. It’s covered in snow and ice like everywhere else.”
“Well, that’s not entirely true,” Summer said. “Some parts have started to thaw a bit.”
Destiny’s throat tightened tenfold as she factored in all that was happening, making it hard to swallow. Or even talk. She fought through it, finding her voice once again. “Holy shit. I don’t believe this.”
Sawtooth snorted a quick breath. “What? That the desert turned to ice?”
“No. That’s not it at all.”
Right then Nomad bent down on one knee and bowed his head as if he were showing reverence to Destiny, his new queen.
CHAPTER 44
Destiny ran it all through her head a second time and still, the facts were almost too much to believe.
“What’s going on, boss?” Shotgun said.
“We’re fucked, that’s what’s going on,” Sawtooth said, his rifle still trained on the people standing across from them.
Destiny ignored her men, deciding to take a step forward as her heart filled with more pressure than she thought it could stand.
Granted, it had been over ten years, but the frizzy-haired girl’s eyes, her nose, and the upturn of lips—they all fit the image that had been stored deep inside her memories. “Summer? Is that really you?”
“Yes, like I said. My name is Summer. Who are you?”
Destiny removed her goggles and then the hood to set her blonde hair free and reveal herself. She smiled, unable to hold back what she was feeling inside. “It’s me.”
Summer shook her head. “What?”
Destiny tugged at her hair, making sure Summer factored it into her assessment. “Don’t you recognize me?”
Summer did not respond as her eyes narrowed and her face pinched. She stood there for a good ten seconds, then the tension in her face released all at once. “Hope?”
Destiny held out her arms. “Yeah, sis. It’s me.”
“Oh my God,” Summer said before her feet engaged, sending her forward in a sprint.
“Summer, wait,” Krista said, making a grab for the girl but missing.
Summer arrived in only seconds, hurling herself at Destiny.
Destiny caught Summer in midair and wrapped her arms around her, squeezing tight.
“I can’t believe it’s really you,” Summer said, her voice full of emotion. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I know, baby girl. Me too.”
Their hug continued for another minute before Destiny looked at Sawtooth.
When he locked eyes with her, she said, “Lower your weapon. We’re among friends here.”
“No. Not a chance. Just because your sister shows up out of the blue doesn’t mean these assholes are our friends.”
Destiny let go of Summer. “I said, put the weapon down. That’s an order, Sawtooth.”