Chapter 68: The Stand
The day Cole was released, the bar was a fortress.
Maya stood at the window, watching the road. The morning light was pale and thin, casting long shadows across the gravel lot. She could feel the tension in the air, the weight of what was coming. Behind her, the family was gathered—Knox, Jesse, Tank, Ghost, Earl, Patricia. They were ready. They'd prepared for this. They'd fortified the bar, stocked supplies, made plans. They'd been over every possible scenario, every exit, every contingency. But Maya knew that no amount of preparation could fully prepare you for the moment when the darkness actually arrived. She could feel the familiar knot in her stomach, the tightness in her chest. She could feel the fear trying to take hold. She pushed it down. She pushed it away
