Chapter 260

GIDEON

The sun was already high when I stepped out of the car.

Afternoon light flooded the ridge road, bright and unforgiving, turning every detail too sharp to ignore. Dust hung in the air where tires had churned through the dirt, and the scent of hot asphalt mixed with the faint bitterness of gunpowder.

Declan stood near a black SUV, arms crossed, posture rigid. Two men sat slumped against th