The next day, I made my rounds on the farm, checking the security of the property—perimeter checks, making sure the dogs were alert, and making sure no one was sneaking around. The more I checked, the more it seemed like there was more activity than usual. It wasn't just the passing trucks anymore; people were lingering. Hunters who didn't usually come this close, delivery vehicles slowing down as they passed, faces I didn't recognize walking along the edges of my land.
I wanted to take Sol out to the mall because I could tell he was becoming more anxious by the minute. I also needed to go to the mall to pick up Taylor's and Skyler's suits that I ordered. I didn't want to go, but since a lot of people would be there, it would be easier to blend into the crowds.
I glanced around the farm once more, making sure everything was in order before we left. The last thing I wanted was to come back to find any surprises waiting for me. Sol was at my side, still silent, but the weight of his concern was clear.
I grabbed my phone and made a group call to the rest of my kids which I have been putting off. The air was thick with tension as I dialed each number.
"Cameron, Robin, Raine, Taylor, Skyler," I said, keeping my voice even, calm, but direct. "Listen up."
I didn't wait for anyone to speak, knowing that urgency was in the air. "I've picked up signs of possible surveillance. Things are about to get real. Here's what you need to do."
I paused briefly, making sure they were paying attention.
"Stay where you are. Stay vigilant. Keep doing whatever you're doing. Don't rush back unless I call for it."
"Mom—" Cameron started, but I cut him off.
"You're all trained for this. You know the drill. If you don't hear from me by sunset, initiate lockdown. Rendezvous at Max and Claire's house. Do not wait around for any more signs."
A quiet silence hung over the phone for a moment. The kids were never great at following my instructions when they were nervous, but they knew I meant business.
"Wait, if things go south, I won't be able to meet my dad, will I?" Cameron asked, his voice tinged with worry that he tried to hide.
I hesitated for only a moment. "If things go south, you can stay here. Cameron, you're eighteen. You're an adult, you don't have to follow me, and the people following me shouldn't bother you. You've trained for this. I know you'll be safe on your own."
"I am going with you. I can meet him another time, but you are my family. The mother who raised me—I will not leave you, and you will not leave me behind," Cameron said with conviction.
Robin's voice came next, sharper than usual. "I'm far away, Jasmine, what if—"
"Don't worry about it. Stay calm. Just stay where you are and keep a low profile," I interrupted, knowing she was probably getting anxious. "I've got this under control."
The line went quiet for a moment. Raine's voice broke the silence.
"We're staying alert, Mom," Raine said. "I was thinking I could ask my coach for a ride back, but I'm guessing you'll tell me to stay put, right?"
I smiled despite the gravity of the situation. "Right. Stay with the team and be smart. Everything else can wait. We'll handle it."
I hung up the phone with a quiet exhale, trying to ground myself. Sol was still watching me, a quiet resolve in his young eyes. He could sense the shift in the air.
"I need to get you geared up," I said to Sol, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. "We're going to town. You're not a kid anymore. You're with me now."
I walked over to my gear bag and started pulling things out.
"Here," I said, handing him a simple, sturdy knife. "You know how to handle this, but I'll still go over everything. How and where you carry it matters."
He nodded, already knowing what to do. I adjusted his hoodie to hide the armor vest I'd had him wear. He wasn't fully grown, but he could handle it.
Once I was sure he was set, I turned to the farmhands. "Keep things tight today. No visitors. Keep the livestock close. And don't wander."
They looked at me, some with a grim acknowledgment. They were ex-cons, but they respected me—some of them had been ex-special forces, others former cartel guys who had walked away from a life they didn't want anymore. They knew the score, and I knew they'd follow through.
We left the farm quietly, my truck rumbling along the dirt roads, and I kept the speed slow, just enough to blend in.
The drive into town felt strange. Sol sat silently next to me, his gaze forward, but I could tell his mind was spinning as much as mine. We both knew something was coming, and we were doing our best to prepare for it.
"Hey," I said, breaking the silence. "How about ice cream when we get to the mall?"
Sol looked up at me, his eyes lighting up, but there was still a touch of wariness there. "Really?"
"Yeah, but that's the only treat for today," I said, trying to keep things light.
"Only if it's not a distraction," He said, smiling faintly, and for a moment, it almost felt normal. Almost.
I took the chance to make some calls while driving. First, to a local shopkeeper whom I trusted. "Anyone else notice any out-of-towners hanging around?" I asked, keeping my tone casual, even though I was listening hard for any odd detail.
"Not much," he said. "But I've seen a few strange vehicles parked along the highway. Some folks are asking questions, too. One of them even mentioned your farm."
I filed that away without replying. He didn't need to know how much that bothered me.
"Okay," I said. "Thanks. Stay alert, alright?"
Next, I made a call to a rancher I knew. Same story—strange people showing up, acting a little too interested in places they shouldn't be. But there was nothing concrete yet.
As I hung up, Sol turned to me, eyes sharp.
"You think she's still out there? Nicole?"
I didn't answer him immediately. Instead, I let my eyes stay focused on the road as the weight of his question settled in. Was she part of this? Or was she just as trapped as I was?
I let out a slow breath, not ready to admit it yet. "I don't know," I said, my voice quieter than I'd meant. "But we're staying alert. And you're right to keep asking questions."
Sol nodded, the tension still thick between us.
As we neared the mall, I saw it—more cars than usual in the parking lot, some unfamiliar vehicles positioned near exits. This wasn't a coincidence.
"Stay close," I said to Sol, adjusting the knife under my jacket as I glanced around. "If things go sideways, you run. I'll handle the rest."
We made our way into the mall, and I felt the weight of everything pressing in on me. Something was about to happen. I didn't know exactly what, but I could feel it in my bones.
I took a deep breath as we stepped inside the mall, the tension in my chest rising with each passing second. Something was about to break; I could feel it. And it wasn't just the surveillance. It was everything. It was Nicole.
The further we walked into the mall, the louder the noise became the scent of food and sugary snacks hanging in the air, the hum of arcade machines adding to the low buzz of conversation. Everything seemed normal, but I felt that itch in my gut—that unease that told me something wasn't right.
As we passed the arcade, Sol's gaze flicked toward a group of young men gathered near the entrance. They were loitering in a way that made me recognize them immediately. Local troublemakers, a gang in the making. I'd crossed paths with them more than once, and while they had a reputation for causing mayhem, I'd seen something in a few of them—raw potential. I'd even done a little unofficial mentoring, teaching them the basics of petty crime: pickpocketing, distraction techniques, and small-time hustles. Nothing too dangerous. Yet.
One of them, a cocky-looking kid with a hoodie pulled low and his hands shoved in his pockets, caught my attention. He made a quick, almost casual move toward me, his fingers just brushing my pocket. But I'd been expecting it.
Before he even had the chance to pull anything out, I caught his wrist in a flash, stopping him cold. The others didn't notice at first, too busy joking among themselves, but they quickly silenced when they saw me.
I held his wrist, feeling the tension in the air as he tried to pull away. "Still sloppy," I said, my voice low but firm.
The kid's eyes widened, but I didn't let go of his wrist just yet. It was a moment for him to learn. A lesson that actions have consequences.
The gang, a mix of sullen faces and nervous energy, watched the exchange in silence. Finally, Mitch, the leader—a lanky kid with a scar on his cheek—gave a stiff nod of acknowledgment. He recognized the game.
The kid I had caught pulled his hand back, clearly flustered. He didn't want to be the one to make a scene, so he quickly mumbled, "Wasn't nothin'... just testing ya." His voice lacked the cocky edge it usually had.
I let go of his wrist, but I wasn't done with him yet. "Next time, make sure you know who you're messing with before you try something. You've been at this long enough to know better."
The rest of the crew, still a little tense, murmured among themselves. I could tell they weren't just scared—I'd earned their respect. They knew I wasn't someone to mess with. Some of them had learned the basics from me, and they knew the rules. They didn't take risks with people who could turn the tables in a second.
Sol, who had been a silent observer, stepped closer to the group. He wasn't intimidated by the kids, but he had a keen eye for how the dynamic played out. While I was still dealing with the kid I caught, Sol briefly exchanged words with the leader, no doubt learning more about where their loyalties lay and how their gang was operating.
The kid I'd caught earlier seemed to shrink a little, but the leader stepped forward, giving me a nod as if to say they weren't a threat to me. "You still teaching 'em the old tricks, Jasmine?" Mitch asked, his voice rough but respectful.
I tilted my head slightly. "They're getting better," I said, my eyes flicking over to Sol. "Just make sure they don't get too cocky."
The kid I'd caught was now rubbing his wrist, obviously embarrassed. "We're not gonna mess with you again," he muttered, trying to play it off.
I didn't respond. I'd seen enough. The group respected me, and I wasn't going to push them further today. The lesson had been delivered.
As we moved on, Sol stayed behind, talking to one of the other delinquents. They were sharing some quiet words, and while I couldn't hear it all, I caught a few snatches of their conversation. It was clear Sol was getting a sense of their world, picking up things I'd taught him.
I walked toward the food court, but my mind was still on the gang. I wasn't sure if they'd stay small-time forever. Some of them had the drive to go further if they got desperate enough, but for now, petty crime was their world—and I was fine with that.
As I walked, I kept a watchful eye on them, making sure they knew their place in the grand scheme of things. I wasn't their friend. I wasn't their family. I was the person who kept them grounded and kept them from crossing the line. For now, that would have to be enough.
Entering the food court, I saw her immediately. Nicole was already there.
I walked up to her, keeping my expression cool, but I didn't miss the stiffness in her posture. She was trying to act normal, but her eyes kept flicking to the exits. She was as on edge as I was. I studied her for a moment, and I knew instantly that she was in on it. This was a trap. I took a moment to calm my emotions, sure I was hurt, but we only knew each other for a few weeks and she had a job to do. I also have to protect my family. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I felt numb. I made my way towards her, looking around and noticing suspicious people nearby. Probably backup.
"You've been busy," I said, leaning in casually as I took a seat.
"So have you," Nicole replied, trying to play it off. But her hesitation didn't escape me. I could tell she was holding something back.
"Still on for Sunday?" I asked, fishing for something. For a hint. I needed to read her and see where she was really at.
"Yeah, of course," she said, but I noticed how quickly the words came out—almost too quickly.
I didn't respond immediately. I just observed her and watched her closely as she tried to steer the conversation into safer waters. I could feel her distancing herself from me, and it hurt.
"You hear from Raine lately?" I asked, pushing a little further.
Nicole faltered, then gave a quick reply. "Yeah. Everything's fine." Her eyes shifted again, avoiding mine for a second too long.
She's struggling.
I let the conversation die there, not wanting to push her too hard, but everything about her—her behavior, her distance—was telling me what I didn't want to admit: she was hiding something.
I kept my thoughts to myself until the next moment arrived. Two people started walking toward us, a man and a woman. I wouldn't have thought anything of it, except Nicole stiffened when she noticed them. Her posture instantly tightened. She might have been trying to hide it, but it was too obvious—she knew them, and they weren't allies, especially not to me.
The man was tall and moved with an air of confidence that felt forced as if he was trying too hard to be charming. His smile was wide and polite, but there was something about it that made me uneasy, like it didn't quite reach his eyes. His posture was too rigid, as though he expected to be respected, but it came off as pompous rather than commanding.
The woman beside him was a stark contrast. She was dressed in bright pastels and wore a smile that seemed almost too eager, too bright for the situation. Her voice was high and cheerful as she greeted Nicole, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she was analyzing everything around her with a calculating gaze. She was bubbly and overly friendly, but something was calculating beneath all that sweetness.
Nicole's shoulders stiffened as they neared, and her eyes flicked briefly to me before she spoke. The unease in her posture was unmistakable if she was trying to act normal but failing.
The man finally spoke, his voice smooth but laced with false politeness. "I believe you're Jasmine West, right?" He extended a hand with that same too-perfect smile as if offering something, but his words didn't match his expression.
Nicole hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, but managed to introduce them. "Jasmine, this is..." She looked at them, but the man stepped in before she could finish.
"Jasper, Nicole's ex-husband," he said, the name coming out like he expected it to be recognized. "And this is Nadia." The woman beside him nodded enthusiastically.
Nadia leaned forward with a bright, almost too-friendly smile. "It's so nice to finally meet you, Jasmine!" Her voice was full of false warmth. "Nicole talks so much about you."
I didn't trust either of them. Not for a second. Whatever was going on here, I wasn't about to let them have the upper hand.