Loyalty Divided

Chapter Forty Three

Evangeline's blood ran cold. The joyous music and laughter died instantly, replaced by the deafening silence of imminent danger. Every head turned toward the direction of the voice, eyes wide with alarm. Evangeline felt Arthur's grip on her hand tighten protectively, his body tensing beside her. The transformation from celebration to readiness was stark; every member of the gang instinctively reached for their weapons, the shift immediate and complete.

The gang collectively drew their guns, the celebratory atmosphere evaporating in an instant. Dutch stood at the forefront, his posture unwavering as he assessed the situation. The lawmen emerged from the shadows, their numbers greater than Evangeline had anticipated. They held their guns at the ready, torches illuminating their stern faces, their uniforms stark against the dark forest backdrop.

One of the lawmen, a tall figure with a commanding presence, stepped forward. His voice rang out, cutting through the tense silence. "Dutch Van der Linde! This is the end of the line. Surrender now, and no one has to get hurt."

Dutch didn't flinch. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the lawmen, calculating their positions and numbers. Evangeline could see the wheels turning in his mind, weighing their options. Beside her, Arthur's grip on his revolver tightened, his gaze fixed on the approaching threat. The rest of the gang members exchanged glances, their breaths shallow and rapid, eyes flicking between Dutch and the encroaching lawmen.

The gang members exchanged tense glances, their breaths shallow and rapid. The tension in the air was palpable, a fragile thread that could snap at any moment. Evangeline's heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and determination. She glanced at Arthur, his face a mask of grim resolve. She knew he was ready to fight, to protect their family at any cost.

Dutch's voice finally broke the silence, calm and measured. "You know we won't go down without a fight. We've got women and children here. Let them go, and we'll talk."

Evangeline felt a surge of anger at the lawman's words. The thought of surrendering, of giving up everything they had fought for, was unbearable. She could see the same defiance mirrored in the faces of her comrades. They had come too far, endured too much, to back down now. She glanced around, taking in the hardened expressions of her fellow gang members-each one ready to fight, to protect their own.

Beside her, Arthur's voice was a low growl. "We're not going anywhere without a fight."

The lawmen tightened their grips on their weapons, preparing for the inevitable. The tension in the air was suffocating, each side poised on the brink of violence. Evangeline's heart pounded in her ears, her senses hyper-aware of every movement, every sound. She knew that in a matter of moments, all hell would break loose.

The lawmen tightened their grips on their weapons, preparing for the inevitable. The tension in the air was suffocating, each side poised on the brink of violence. Evangeline's heart pounded in her ears, her senses hyper-aware of every movement, every sound. She knew that in a matter of moments, all hell would break loose.

The lawmen moved forward, their steps deliberate and menacing. The leader, a stern-faced man with a gravelly voice, stopped a few paces from Dutch. "Dutch Van der Linde," he called out, his tone authoritative. "This is your last chance. Surrender peacefully, and no one has to die tonight."

Dutch stood his ground, his eyes cold and defiant. "I don't think so," he replied, his voice dripping with disdain. "We've done nothing wrong that you haven't driven us to. We're just trying to survive."

The lawman sneered, his hand resting on the butt of his pistol. "You call robbing banks and killing innocent people survival? You're nothing but a band of criminals, and it's time you faced justice."