Chapter 1249
These guys were clearly trouble, but before doing anything rash, they needed to figure out exactly who these people were and why they’d shown up here in the
first place.
One of the men, clearly rattled, was already waving his shotgun at them. “Who the hell are you p>
“Hey! Over here! There’s someone down here p>
He shouted up the hill to his buddies.
A group of men, seeing the look on his face and realizing he wasn’t kidding, scrambled down the muddy slope.
When they spotted Tarquin and the others, they all froze in shock-then immediately raised their rifles, aiming at the family.
Baby, never having experienced anything like this before, burst into tears on the spot.
She clung to Elysia, burying her face in her mother’s chest. “Mommy, I’m scared… I’m scared p>
Elysia hugged her daughter tightly, her own heart pounding in her chest. “Shh, it’s okay. It’s okay. Don’t be scared p>
Tarquin stepped in front, shielding Elysia and the kids behind him.
The man in charge barked, “Alright, talk. What the hell are you doing here p>
Tarquin lied without missing a beat. “Summer vacation. Just took the kids out for a little adventure p>
The man narrowed his eyes. “You brought kids out here? Into the middle of nowhere p>
“Yeah. They love exploring p>
He snorted. “There are a million safer places to take your kids. Do you even know where you are p>
Tarquin shrugged. “Not really. We got lost p>
The guy eyed their group seven people, kids and women, clearly a family. After a moment, he relaxed a bit, lowering his gun just slightly.
But his gaze lingered on Elysia, running up and down her figure. He cleared his throat and snapped, “Alright, up the hill. You’re coming with us. Try anything funny and I’ll blow your heads off p>
A flash of cold anger flickered in Tarquin’s eyes, but he swallowed it down, keeping his cool. He turned back to Elysia and the kids. “Do as they say. Just follow them p>
So, the whole family trudged ahead, with the armed men in camo trailing behind, guns at the ready.
“Damn, what a haul today! This is better than bagging a grizzly,” one of the men chuckled darkly.
“God must really love us, huh? Just what we needed, right when we needed it,” another sneered.
“Check out the lady though no way she’s a mom, looks barely twenty. Fresh as a daisy, huh-OW p>
The man was mid-laugh when he suddenly shrieked and went sprawling to the ground.
Not only did he fall, he managed to knock down the guys in front, behind, and to the sides of him too.
One banged his head on a rock; another got his cheek scratched by a branch.
“Goddammit, what’s wrong with you?! That hurt like hell p>
The culprit breathing hard and wide-eyed, stammered, “Swear to God, I saw a snake! It was about to go for my eyes, tongue flicking out and everything. Nearly gave me a heart attack p>
The others rolled their eyes.
“Are you nuts? It’s broad daylight-what snake? I didn’t see anything p>
“Yeah, you’re just looking for trouble, man! You got blood on me, dammit p>
The leader cut them off, irritated. “Save it. Get your asses up and keep moving p>
The men herded the
as
family forwardin
they walked-but now their attention
was on the so-called “spalette
Evan snorted under his breath, slipping White back into his jacket sleeve.
If he wasn’t so desperate to figure out who these people were, what they were doing in the mountains, and what connection they had to Great-Grandpa and Grandma, he would’ve dealt with them already.
How dare they talk about his mom like that. If only he could-
But Evan gritted his teeth and held back, forcing himself to keep walking.
Then, as they pushed deeper into the woods, a small cluster of wooden cabins came into view through the trees.
Elysia, Elliot, Evan, and Emmett all stopped dead in their tracks, unable to hide the shock on their faces.
This place they’d lived here for five years.
This was Grandma and Grandpa’s home.