Chapter 23: The Long Game
Elsie’s POV
The heavy silence that followed Dean’s declaration hung in the suffocating heat of the room like smoke. Open war. It was the one phrase none of them had dared to say out loud until now.
For a long, agonizing minute, no one moved. Collin’s breathing was loud and ragged, his jaw clenching so hard a pale knot of muscle stood out on his cheek. Jeremy slowly slid his pocket knife closed, the small click sounding as loud as a gunshot in the tiny cabin.
Then Collin slowly shook his head.
"No," Collin said. The fire in his voice from seconds ago had suddenly died out, replaced by a cold, deadly calculation. "No, Dean. That’s a suicide run, and you know it."
Dean’s gray eyes narrowed, his fingers tightening around the grip of his Glock. "It’s the only way
