The bell rang again, sharp and insistent.

Carol’s eyes flicked to Claus. Both already had their guns out, backs pressed to the wall like shadows. Mia’s heartbeat thundered as she crouched low in the middle of the room.

On three, Claus yanked the door open and Carol leveled her gun…

…and froze.

Not an assassin. Not a cartel runner.

A family.

A man, short and stocky. A woman, tiny and pretty, barely reaching his shoulder. Two kids, faces lit with curiosity.

They all stared. The man’s ...