Page 10 of Rogue Hope
Too late, of course. By then, he’d already betrayed her, already set in motion events that would lead to his “death” and seven years of solitary existence dedicated to dismantling Cipher’s operations.
Seven years of hotel rooms and safe houses. Seven years without friends or family. Seven years where his only human connections were transactional and temporary.
Watching the people of Hope Landing prepare for their celebration, he felt the weight of that isolation settle more heavily on his shoulders. What would it be like to live openly? To have people who expected your presence, who noticed yourabsence? To build something lasting instead of constantly destroying and disappearing?
Not that he’d ever know.
He’d earned whatever punishment came his way.
The town square clock chimed nine, its resonant tones echoing off the surrounding buildings. He pulled his baseball cap lower and melted back into the shadows between buildings. Tomorrow, he’d observe the parade from a safe distance, verify Zara’s situation, and make a new plan.
If she was safe, he’d disappear, creating a false trail leading far from Hope Landing to ensure Cipher followed him instead of looking closer at Zara. If she showed signs of being under surveillance or threat, he’d have to find a way to warn her without revealing himself—a considerably more complex challenge.
Either way, his presence here would be brief and unremarkable, leaving no trace behind. Just as he had done countless times before.
Just as he would likely do countless times again, until Cipher was neutralized or one of them was dead.
The cheerful sounds of the town preparing for celebration faded behind him as he disappeared into the quiet residential streets, a solitary shadow moving through the mountain night, carrying the weight of his past and the uncertainty of what tomorrow might bring.
6
Independence Daydawned bright and sunny, deliciously warm even well before parade start time. Hope Landing’s Main Street had transformed overnight into a kaleidoscope of patriotic splendor. Red, white, and blue bunting draped from every storefront, flags snapped in the mountain breeze, and excited children darted between clusters of chatting adults.
Behind the Hope Landing Hardware Store, in the staging area for parade floats, Zara perched precariously on a stepladder, securing the last skull-and-crossbones flag to the pirate ship’s mast.
“Thirty degrees portside!” Deke called from below, hands on his hips as he critically evaluated the flag’s position. “We need symmetrical menace, people!”
“It’s a parade float, not a tactical insertion,” Griff muttered, though he obligingly adjusted the mounting bracket.
Zara laughed, wincing slightly as the movement sent a fresh wave of pain through her shoulders. She’d awakened to a flare-up, her limbs stiff and aching despite the increased medication Kenji had insisted she take.
The growing heat wasn’t helping matters.
“Heads up! Incoming competition at two o’clock,” Axel announced, nodding toward the far end of the staging area where another float was arriving.
The original Knight Tactical team’s creation rolled majestically into view, drawing appreciative whistles from nearby parade participants. Their “Heroes Through History” theme had manifested as an elaborate tableau featuring iconic figures from different eras. A Roman centurion stood beside a medieval knight, while a Wild West sheriff conversed with what appeared to be a World War II pilot.
“Is that a working waterfall?” Griffin asked incredulously, squinting at the cascading feature at the rear of the float.
“And fog machines,” Ronan confirmed grimly. “They’ve got fog machines.”
“This means war,” Deke declared, pulling a walkie-talkie from his belt. “All hands on deck! We need more pirate swagger, stat!”
The Original Knights had spotted them now. Jack Reese, tall and commanding in his Revolutionary War costume, raised a hand in greeting. Austin Dagget, dressed as an old-timey sheriff, cradled his son in one arm while adjusting his cowboy hat with the other. Star Rodriguez, resplendent as what appeared to be Amelia Earhart, was already heading in their direction, her husband Ethan following with Christian Murphy, both of them already sweating in their Apollo astronaut costumes.
“Ahoy, pirates!” Star called, her smile warm despite the competitive glint in her eyes. “Love what you’ve done with the basic starter kit. Very ... oceany.”
The good-natured ribbing continued as the teams circled each other’s floats, offering genuine compliments amid the teasing. Despite the competitive atmosphere, there was obvious affection between the groups.
Zara participated in the banter, but found herself increasingly distracted. The sunlight felt like needles against her skin, and fatigue dragged at her limbs despite having taken her pills at dawn. She subtly adjusted her position to remain in the shadow of their float, grateful for the wide-brimmed hat Maya had insisted everyone wear as part of their pirate costumes.
“Ten minutes to parade formation!” a volunteer coordinator announced, walking between the floats with a clipboard. “Everyone to starting positions, please!”
Zara found her designated spot near the ship’s bow, relieved it offered some shade from the increasingly oppressive sun. The temperature had climbed steadily, and the crowd’s energy seemed to intensify the heat, creating a wall of noise and movement that pressed against her heightened senses.
The noise was overwhelming—hundreds of voices calling out, children shrieking with delight, patriotic music blaring from speakers. Zara waved mechanically, her smile fixed as she scanned the crowd from habit, a security assessment she couldn’t turn off even during a small-town parade.
That’s when she saw him.
