Page 56 of Devlin

A muscle ticked in Moses’s jaw. His hand curled into a fist before he exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Dammit," he growled. "So we have proof of what we suspected."

"Yes," Devlin confirmed. "Dr. München’s plan is for Robert to get the driver’s name and at least ban him from entering the camp."

Moses gave a curt nod before turning to Enock. "As soon as we get that name, I want you to circulate it."

Enock nodded in understanding. His gaze flicked toward Mia, and he hesitated before speaking. "We can increase thesecurity forces around the warehouse at night. We already have five villages and the main camp to patrol. That gives us six locations we need to cover more often."

"Is that a problem?" Mia asked, her brows knitting together.

Moses and Enock exchanged a look before turning back to her. "Our forces are stretched thin," Moses admitted, "and we need to prioritize the safety of the refugees."

Mia nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I agree. So many people are simply looking for a better way of life, but there will always be a few who look for trouble."

"We’ll look at our schedule and see what we can do," Enock vowed.

Mia crossed her arms, clearly working through an idea in her head. "Farid told me that at night, he keeps the warehouse workers on a rotating shift, sometimes changing the schedule with little notice. He does this to prevent anyone from knowing too far in advance when they’ll be working, in case someone’s trying to arrange a deal with the truck drivers for a kickback."

Moses raised a brow, nodding in approval. "I haven’t employed that tactic, but maybe it’s time to do so." He glanced at Enock again, who immediately said, "I can start implementing it."

"That might be a good place to start," Devlin agreed. "Since your men are already stretched thin, it’s unlikely we’ll get additional security guards for night patrols."

When they shook hands with both men, Devlin was caught off guard when Moses patted Mia on the back.

"What will you do when you leave here?" Moses asked, his gaze warm on her.

Mia’s gaze flickered to Devlin before she turned back to Moses. She shrugged but smiled. "I’m not sure. I’m considering several possibilities."

Moses gave a nod of understanding. "Well, I hope you go home and see your family before heading somewhere else."

Enock folded his arms across his chest and smiled warmly at her. "I’m sure your parents have missed you. Family should always come first. No matter what else… it’s all about what is best for your family.”

Devlin caught the soft flush that crept up Mia’s cheeks. She didn’t respond right away, but he could see the slight tension in her shoulders. He remained quiet for now but would ask her when they had a chance to focus on them and not the camp.

Their goodbyes were quick but warm, and soon, Devlin and Mia stepped back out into the sunlit camp. He fell into step beside her as they walked toward the Jeep, the conversation lingering in his mind. As they climbed into the seats, he glanced her way.

Devlin pulled the Jeep to a stop in front of the camp’s main food warehouse, dust settling in the warm afternoon air. He turned to Mia as she unbuckled her seat belt. "Are you going to stay here the rest of the afternoon?"

"Yes," she said, brushing stray strands of hair from her face. "Farid is making the rounds to all the food distribution centers in each village, and I’ll be working on my food contacts. I need to talk to Margarethe to see what I can order." She tilted her head, her perceptive gaze narrowing. "What are you going to do?"

“I'll check in with Todd and Cole about the cameras they installed. It may take tweaking to get the angles we need. Then we’ll talk to Logan to see how long we can stay. It’s only been a few days, but I need to find out his thoughts.”

Devlin searched her face, looking for a reaction. Instead, she pressed her lips together, her expression unreadable. When she finally spoke, it was with a short, polite nod and an abbreviated smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Will I see you later?"

"Are you kidding? Absolutely." His voice softened. "Let me know when you’re ready to return to your room, and I’ll come get you."

She offered another nod, then moved to get out of the Jeep. Before she could step down, Devlin gently wrapped his fingers around her wrist. She stilled. He saw her glance down at his hand before lifting her gaze, a silent question in her eyes.

He gave the smallest tug, just enough to bring her closer. She leaned toward him, and he caught her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. He felt her smile against his mouth, and when he pulled back, his own spread in response. “My Mia,” he whispered.

Her smile widened, warmth flickering in her eyes before she slipped out of the Jeep and disappeared inside the warehouse.

Devlin watched her go, but the contentment in his chest didn’t last long. The weight of everything pressing down on them returned quickly—Mia’s concern over the thefts, the uncertain timeline of their reunion, and the unanswered question that had been gnawing at him since Moses’s parting words. “What are your plans when you leave here?”He wondered what part of the world she would travel to next. Would it be dangerous? How long would she be gone?

That was a question Devlin hadn’t been prepared for. And one he fully intended to bring up tonight.

Frustration loomed, heavy and unavoidable. It felt like fate had gone to great lengths to bring them back together, only to conspire against them again.

With a deep breath, he turned the Jeep back toward the guest quarters. Inside, he found Todd and Cole in their shared space, both just returning from the latest camera installation. Todd had his laptop open, reviewing the footage, while Cole leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

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