Bound and surrounded, Camille and her husbands were marched out of the monastery, their captors’ cold stares making it clear that resistance was futile—for now. The mercenaries moved with practiced precision, their rifles slung across their shoulders as they herded the group down the rugged mountain trail. Camille’s wrists chafed against the rough ropes binding her, but she kept her expression calm, refusing to show weakness. Inside, her mind raced.
The ledger was too dangerous to fall into Evelyn’s hands. Camille’s stomach churned at the thought of what she might do if she got hold of it. But they were outnumbered, their captors heavily armed, and there was no clear way out.
Leo, walking just ahead of her, caught her eye briefly. His shoulders tensed, and she saw him glance toward Matthew, who gave a nearly imperceptible nod in return. The exchange was subtle, but it made her heart pound. They were planning something. She didn’t know what, but she trusted them—and prayed it wouldn’t get them all killed.
The trail narrowed as they reached a precarious cliffside path, its jagged edge dropping into a dizzying abyss. The mountain wind howled, swirling loose pebbles underfoot and adding to the tension in the air. The mercenaries became more cautious, their formation tightening as they navigated the treacherous terrain.
That’s when Leo struck.
In a blur of motion, he twisted to his left, driving his shoulder into the guard nearest him. The man let out a sharp cry as he stumbled backward, his arms pinwheeling before he disappeared over the cliff’s edge. The scream echoed briefly, then vanished into the void.
Before the other mercenaries could react, Leo lunged forward, grabbing the rifle from the fallen guard’s hands. A shot rang out, deafening in the mountain air, as chaos erupted.
Matthew wasted no time. He dove low, tackling the nearest guard and wrestling him to the ground. They grappled fiercely, their grunts and curses blending with the crack of gunfire.
“Camille, stay low!” Noah barked, his voice sharp as he grabbed her arm and pulled her against him. He crouched, shielding her with his body as bullets ricocheted off the rocky path around them. Camille’s heart thundered in her chest, but she obeyed, keeping her head down and clutching Noah tightly.
Leo fired another shot, forcing the remaining mercenaries to retreat down the path. The narrow cliffside worked in their favor; the attackers couldn’t move freely without risking the edge.
Matthew let out a triumphant shout as he slammed his opponent’s head into the rocky ground, disarming him in the process. He stood quickly, the stolen weapon in his hands, and joined Leo, who was already scanning for any remaining threats.
Within minutes, the fight was over. The last of the mercenaries either lay unconscious or fled, their shouts echoing in the distance as they retreated.
Camille let out a shaky breath, her limbs trembling as Noah helped her to her feet. The tension in his face softened as he brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, his touch lingering.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low but urgent.
“I’m fine,” she managed, her voice steadier than she felt. “Thanks to you.”
Leo approached, cradling the ledger in one hand and the rifle in the other. Dirt and sweat streaked his face, but his expression was triumphant. “Got it,” he said, holding up the book.
Matthew joined them, wiping blood from his split lip. “Not for long,” he said grimly. “They’ll regroup, and they’ll be coming back with more.”
Noah nodded, his arm still around Camille. “We need to move,” he said urgently. “Evelyn won’t stop coming, and we can’t be here when they return.”
Leo adjusted the rifle strap across his shoulder, his gaze scanning the trail ahead. “There’s a cave system nearby,” he said. “If we can reach it, we might be able to lose them in the tunnels.”
Matthew motioned for the group to follow. “Let’s go.”
Camille glanced back at the unconscious mercenaries sprawled on the path, a cold shiver running down her spine. The ledger was safe for now, but Evelyn wouldn’t give up easily. They had won a small victory, but the fight was far from over.