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each other and then shook their heads. They really should have done more research, but information on the Campbells was hard to come by. Tal wished he’d made more of an effort.
    Cole and Lucy exchanged an amused glance and Cole spoke. “Our mother was a waitress at a coffee shop in Toronto with three kids that had two different fathers who didn’t pay child support no matter how often the court asked them to. We all shared a room, until—”  
    Lucy cut her twin off. “Needless to say, we didn’t grow up with actor and lawyer parents who spoiled us rotten and left us with mansions and trust funds. We’ve worked hard to get here, and that’s that.” She stood and narrowed her eyes at them. “I don’t know what else you want from us. I’m not going to back off, and I’m not going to just let things be because that’s the way it’s been for ten years. Sorry, but I’m not. Ten years is nothing.”
    “So you’d start a war,” Conner said, standing as well, which was less than impressive since she was a couple of inches taller than him in her boots.
    “Are you declaring one?” she asked, cocking her head at him. “You know how things ended for Napoleon, right? You look like him.”
    “He had a lot of victories,” Connor snapped. “He was a great general. A leader.”
    “He was arrogant, and was defeated at Waterloo. You’ve had your victories. This battle, if you choose to make one, will be your Waterloo, because as soon as you’re weakened, you’re going to be fighting a war on two fronts with us, and with East, and we’ll divide your spoils.”
    “How do you know East won’t start a war with you?”
    “I don’t,” she said simply. “But I doubt they’re going to start a war they don’t think they can win, and they’re smart enough to know I’m not the one to attack first if and when they make a play for the continent. I’m Siberia. Not worth the hassle until I’m a problem for them.”
    Tal had to admit, he was impressed with her knowledge of war history, but decided her negotiating skills left a lot to be desired. “Instead, you’ve decided to be a problem for us,” he replied.
    “I’m liberating you. Please,” she said, condescendingly. “Don’t take it personally. I’m sure you’re lovely people, but you’re in my way. I want the coast.”
    “You have the north coast in Vancouver,” Tal replied. “You’ve got a route to Asia.”
    She nodded. “You’re right. I do. But I want all the coast.”
    “You don’t need it all.”
    “You don’t know what anyone needs, Tal. That’s why you’re in this situation.” She glanced at Zoey. “I’ll help you with the dishes later.” Zoey winked back at her, and they exchanged an affectionate smile, before Lucy turned back to them, her mouth drawn.  
    Connor, Lucy, and he all stared at each other, in a moment Tal would remember as one of the tensest of his life.
    Lucy broke first, so she could get the last word. “Boys, if you’re staying the night, there’s a trailer about a ten minute walk east. I wouldn’t want you telling everyone I’m a poor hostess.”  
    Abruptly, Lucy gathered up her sandwich and headed inside.
    Tal reaffirmed what he’d felt in his gut all along.  
    They were in trouble.  

Chapter 3

    July 2001
    Los Angeles California

    “Oh, you guys,” Joe Bauman said, tears streaming down his tired face, which these days looked far older than its forty-five years. “I don’t know why we’re tested like this, but there has to be a reason—“
    “For fuck’s sake, Joe,” his sister Alex muttered. “They just lost their mother. I just lost my husband. Let’s not try and push make-believe and fairy tales about God on them now. Look at the world.”
    The last thing Joe wanted to do was look at the rest of the world. Looking at his small part of it was painful enough. He couldn’t put on a brave face anymore. He knew there was a good chance he’d be dead in a few days.  
    There was no reason to