Page 53 of Silent Dust
Bear leaned forward instinctively, trying to will himself closer to the moment. His shoulders tightened beneath his gear; every muscle coiled and ready. The urge to breach himself was strong but held by discipline and trust.
Sounds erupted over the comm—shouts, urgent commands, the sharp clatter of weaponry striking floor and furniture. The chaos in high definition on the feeds pulsed through his nerves.
Hawk lunged first, wrenching Charlotte’s arm sharply and loosening her grip on Amelia. The child gasped but remained still, cradled by teammates.
“Red, knife,” Kujo’s calm but urgent voice commanded.
Red responded instantly, sweeping the blade away with precision. Charlotte faltered, wild eyes searching as Ghost closed in. His hands found Amelia’s arms, pulling gently but firmly, coaxing her free.
In the fray, Flora moved with steely intent, slipping past overturned furniture toward Charlotte’s distracted side. Soft sobs echoed faintly as she reached out, arms a shield.
Ghost handed Amelia off smoothly to Flora, who wrapped the trembling child in a protective embrace, guiding her away from danger.
“Zulu, rear secure?” Bear’s voice cut crisply through comms.
Zulu’s clear-eyed scan confirmed no threats behind.
The squad tightened control, Charlotte’s screams piercing the air—manic, venomous.
“You can’t stop me! This is my destiny! You don’t understand what I’m meant to be!”
Her voice twisted between madness and rage as she thrashed violently, but the team remained methodical, unyielding.
Zip ties were applied swiftly, hands and feet bound tight with practiced efficiency. Fury still blazed in Charlotte’s eyes, but the fire flickered into exhaustion.
The battle was over.
But her storm raged on, volatile and lurking beneath restraint.
Outside, the distant wail of sirens swelled—a crescendo Bear hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath for.
Though retired, the team moved with seamless precision, every action testament to their hardened resolve. The final sweep, the handoffs—it all fell into place.
Bear watched Flora cradle Amelia close, each step guided with care. Charlotte, subdued and restrained, was no longer a threat.
Relief poured into Bear’s chest, loosening the tight knot of tension.
He tore himself away from the screens and ran toward the house, the sounds of command and arrest fading beneath his pounding heart.
When he reached them, Flora’s knees gave out, and Bear caught her tightly before she could fall. Tears gleamed in her exhausted eyes as she clung to Amelia—safe, trembling, unharmed—in her arms. Amelia looked up at Bear, her voice trembling but clear: “Daddy, that dog lady is not nice!”
Bear wrapped them both in a fierce embrace, the weight of fear and hope crashing into a single overwhelming moment.
34 - BEAR
The sky stretched abovein soft hues of orange and pink, the turmoil of the day giving way to an uneasy calm. The sharp edge of chaos had dulled, settled by the fading bustle of law enforcement vehicles pulling away, their sirens dimming into the distance.
The backyard was still buzzing with the aftermath of the day’s chaos. Folding chairs were scattered around the lawn, coolers cracked open, and the faint smell of barbecue smoke lingered in the air. The guys had gathered near the patio, some nursing beers, others pacing or leaning against fence posts, all replaying the day’s excitement in their minds. The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows over the grass, while the sky shifted from warm amber to dusky purple.
Inside, away from the tension outside, the ladies had retreated to the kitchen, settling in with glasses of wine and softened laughter as they relaxed and unwound, enjoying each other’s company after the storm.
But out here, the silence between the men carved out space for the big questions—questions that demanded answers.
Swede, Link, Hawk, and Kujo huddled close to Bear, eager to break down what they’d uncovered reviewing the securityfootage. Swede leaned in, his voice clipped and technical. “We ran every frame from every camera after they took Charlotte away.”
He gave Bear a flat look. “The perimeter cams were solid, no doubt. But none of them have any angle up into that maple tree by the garage. There was a blind spot—one she exploited perfectly.”
Link’s eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and disbelief. “Yeah. Around 11 a.m., she shows up through the gate carrying a couple of sacks and a cooler, just like any guest. But she wasn’t just wandering. She actually stopped and talked to some people, pretty casually, too.”
