The night burned with fire and gunfire shadows danced along the treeline as bullets ripped through the convoy, sparks flashing against metal.
Emily crouched behind the overturned truck, ears ringing, heart hammering.
This was planned.
Hale's people hadn't just found them by chance—they'd been waiting.
Which meant they had a way out planned for him too.
Emily's grip tightened on her rifle.
Not tonight.
Pinned Down
"Lena, status!" Emily barked into her comm.
The response was immediate—gunfire, shouting, then Lena's voice, breathless but sharp.
"We're boxed in. West side's crawling with hostiles—Kade's down, leg hit. We can't move!"
Emily's stomach twisted she risked a glance toward the second truck—a burning wreck, twisted metal and smoke billowing into the sky.
"Kade alive?"
"Yeah, but he's not running anywhere."
Emily turned to Damien. "We need to break them out."
Damien grimaced. "And leave Hale here?"
