Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Dani had survived plenty of bad situations in her life—foster homes with locks on the refrigerators, sleeping in bus terminals when she ran out of money, and that one boyfriend who thought "fire dancer" meant "girl who likes getting burned.
" But being hunted by a shady corporation with alien-tracking technology? This was a new one.
"Act normal," Rowan murmured as they stepped out of the Desert Suite into the blinding Arizona sun.
Dani forced a laugh like Rowan had said something hilarious, nodding at a group of tourists snapping photos by the meditation garden. "What exactly is normal when you're hiding glowing alien boyfriends from men in black?"
"Just look like you belong," Rowan replied through her perfect customer service smile. Her eyes suddenly fixed on something across the courtyard. "Don't look now, but security guy at two o'clock. Earpiece, tactical stance, trying too hard to blend in."
Rowan was beginning to sound like the aliens.
This wasn't some military role-playing game.
It was real life, and she was terrified.
Dani resisted the urge to spin around. Instead, she pretended to be fascinated by a nearby cactus while stealing a glance in her peripheral vision.
The man stood, his gaze moving methodically over the grounds. “Got it.”
Her pulse quickened. This wasn't some rent-a-cop resort security. This was professional.
"So what's our actual plan here?" Dani asked, keeping her voice light. "Just stroll around and hope they don't grab us?"
"Basically," Rowan admitted. "But we need to?—"
A high-pitched electronic whine cut through the air. Dani looked up instinctively, and her stomach dropped. A sleek black drone hovered overhead, its camera lens adjusting as it focused directly on them.
"Shit," she whispered. "I think our cover's blown. That didn't take long."
"Keep walking," Rowan urged. "If they wanted to grab us, they would have already."
Easy for her to say. Dani had left Solar back in that suite, vulnerable and exposed. Her hand twitched, fingers curling as if she could somehow reach through space and pull him to safety. She'd only known him for days, but the thought of Milano getting their hands on him made her physically sick.
The drone followed their movement like a patient predator, maintaining a consistent distance as they continued toward the pool area. Guests lounged in the morning sun, oblivious to the fact that they were sharing space with actual aliens and the people hunting them.
"They're herding us," Rowan said, her voice tense.
"What?"
"They're channeling us away from the Desert Suite." Rowan's eyes darted around, taking in the positions of men who suddenly looked less like maintenance workers and more like operatives. "They want to separate us from Solar and Eclipse."
How could Rowan possibly know that? She was in retreat management. Wasn't she? Suddenly, the woman was acting like some kind of trained spy.
Rowan's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and showed Dani a text from an unknown number, "Ms. Clark. Please proceed to the front entrance. Mr. Petersen would like a word."
"They're tracking your phone," Dani said, feeling a rush of adrenaline. "We need to ditch it."
"No," Rowan replied, her fingers already typing a response. "We need to use it."
Dani watched as Rowan bought them time with a bogus reply. She'd underestimated this woman. Beneath the yoga retreat coordinator's exterior was someone who clearly knew how to handle pressure.
"Now we need to move. Fast," Rowan said, steering them toward a small garden shed.
Once inside the cramped, chlorine-scented space, Dani's mind raced. "Okay, so we've established that Milano has the place surrounded. Can we go back now?"
Every second away from Solar felt like torture.
"Not yet." Rowan peered through the small window and seemed to be counting Milano operatives. "We need to figure out how many they have and what kind of equipment they're using. If we go straight back, they'll just follow us to Eclipse and Solar."
A metallic clank sounded on the roof. Both women froze.
"I think they're scanning for us," Rowan whispered. "If they've developed technology to track the aliens..."
The drone emitted a sharp electronic beep, and Dani's blood ran cold. They'd been found.
"We need to move. Now." Rowan grabbed a pool skimmer from the wall and shoved the door open, swinging the pole upward in one fluid motion.
The drone sputtered as its propellers caught in the net, careening sideways and crashing into a cactus.
"Run!" Rowan shouted.
Dani's body reacted before her mind could process, legs pumping as she sprinted after Rowan across the pool deck. Her years of martial arts training kicked in, her breathing controlled despite the surge of panic. Behind them, men shouted, abandoning all pretense of covert operations.
Dani glanced back, and her heart jumped. Three men were gaining on them, reaching inside their jackets for what looked suspiciously like weapons. She veered sharply left, spotting the open-air yoga pavilion.
"This way!"
Twenty peaceful yogis stretched in warrior pose as Dani and Rowan power-walked through their midst.
"Sorry, maintenance emergency," Rowan called to the bewildered instructor.
The Milano men halted at the edge, as if unwilling to cause a scene with so many witnesses. Thank goodness for small victories.
As soon as they cleared the pavilion, they broke into a run again. The muscles in Dani's legs burned, but fear drove her forward. She'd spent her life running— from foster homes, from relationships, from commitment —but this was the first time she'd run toward something worth fighting for.
"We can't lead them back to the suite," she managed through heavy breaths, thinking of Solar.
"I know," Rowan panted. "We need to split up."
They reached a junction in the path. Ahead lay the main building with a narrow trail that wound toward the red rocks at the property's edge.
"Take the trail," Rowan instructed. "Circle around the canyon side. I'll create a diversion."
"What? No!" Dani protested, grabbing Rowan's arm. "They're after you specifically."
"Exactly." Rowan pulled away, already backing toward the main building. "I'll be fine. Get to Eclipse and Solar. Tell them Milano is actively hunting us, not just watching. Don't contact my phone. Don't come after me."
Before Dani could argue further, Rowan turned and sprinted toward the retreat's central building. Something about her confidence made Dani think this wasn't her first time evading pursuit.
Dani hesitated for one precious second before darting down the narrow trail. The red rock path rose steadily, snaking around natural formations and offering sparse vegetation for cover. Her lungs burned with the exertion, but she pushed on, scanning constantly for signs of pursuit.
She'd made it halfway up the trail when movement below caught her eye. Three Milano operatives were spreading out at the trail's base, speaking into their comms. They hadn't spotted her yet, but it was only a matter of time.
Dani dropped to a crouch behind a twisted juniper, her heart hammering against her ribs. She needed to circle back to the suite, but these guys were blocking the obvious route. She'd have to go higher, find another way around.
The path steepened as she climbed, loose rocks skittering beneath her feet. A misstep sent a cascade of pebbles down the slope. She froze, pressing herself against the cliff face as one of the men below looked up, scanning the trail.
For an excruciating moment, Dani didn't breathe. The operative stared directly at her position, then, seemingly satisfied, returned to his surveillance. She exhaled slowly, her hands trembling slightly.
Keep moving. Keep moving. Keep moving.
The mantra repeated in her head as she picked her way higher.
From this elevation, she could see more of the retreat's layout.
The main building swarmed with activity.
Rowan's diversion was working. But to her horror, she spotted black SUVs pulling up to the Desert Suite.
Men in tactical gear poured out, surrounding the building.
Solar.
They’d found him.
Her entire body trembled in fear. The thought of him captured, experimented on, and dissected. It sent a wave of nausea through her. She needed to warn him, somehow.
A distant commotion drew her attention to the main entrance.
A colorful parade of... What the hell? People in alien costumes?
A man with a bullhorn led the group, his silver jumpsuit catching the sun as he gestured dramatically.
Behind him, at least thirty people in various extraterrestrial getups waved signs and shouted slogans.
"The truth is here!” boomed across the retreat grounds.
Dani recognized Pete from the crystal shop, his wispy gray hair flying as he directed his flash mob of alien enthusiasts straight toward the Milano operatives. Several confused tourists joined the parade, thinking it was part of the retreat's entertainment.
Rowan must have called in reinforcements. Clever girl.
The distraction gave Dani her opening. As Milano personnel moved to contain the unexpected Earth-alien invasion, she darted across an exposed section of trail to a service path that wound behind the guest cottages. From there, she could approach the Desert Suite from the rear.
She was halfway there when a deafening crash echoed across the grounds. Dani whipped around to see the front door of the Desert Suite flying off its hinges. Smoke billowed out, followed by a flash of golden light so bright it left spots in her vision.
No!
Solar.
A surge of something— electricity?— arced from inside the suite, followed by screams. Two Milano operatives stumbled out, their tactical gear smoking. One collapsed to his knees, the other dragged him away from the door.