Exactly at 9:27 p.m. Claire’s SUV rumbled into the empty Fireside Flavors parking lot, headlights off, engine humming low like it knew what kind of night this was going to be.
Inside, Madeline tightened the strap on her boots with fingers that wouldn’t stop trembling.
“You’re not cold,” Norma said gently, appearing beside her with a flask in one hand and a tactical vest in the other. “That’s adrenaline. Give it a minute, it’ll level out. Or crash hard. Either way, you’ll be fabulous as always.”
“I’m not sure I can do this,” Madeline whispered.
Norma handed her the flask. “Take a sip. Just one. Calms the nerves without dulling the edge. Think of it as bourbon yoga.”
Maggie burst through the door, dressed in black and radiating chaotic energy. “Okay, I know I said I was fine before, but
