Chapter 18 - The Town Gathers
The next morning, the town of San Valerio felt different.
When Liam walked to the bakery to get fresh bread, the locals looked at him with a new, unspoken respect. They had seen the black sedan leave. They had seen the two bruised men limping out of the brush before fleeing the town.
They knew Arthur Vance had protected their peace.
Elena handed him a warm loaf of bread, her eyes holding a silent gratitude.
"The storm passed quickly," Elena noted, wiping her hands on her apron.
"It broke on the cliffs," Liam replied, taking the bread. "It won't reach the town."
Mateo was waiting for him at the docks.
"You still want your job, Arthur?" the old fisherman grunted.
"If you still need a mechanic," Liam said.
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"I need a man who knows how to fix broken things," Mateo said, handing him a wrench. "Looks like you know how to do that just fine."
Liam smiled, a genuine, relaxed expression. He wasn't an outcast hiding among them anymore. He had earned his place in San Valerio. He was one of them.
