“Remi... Jack!” I choked out but couldn’t look. Couldn’t check.
Could only fight.
My opponent recovered quickly. He swung, the blade grazing my ribs. I didn’t feel it yet. Too much adrenaline. Too much fucking fury.
I slammed him against a tree, disarmed him, and shoved the barrel of my gun beneath his jaw.
He froze.
“Wrong day,” I growled.
And pulled the trigger.
The shot echoed through the trees like a beacon.
I didn’t wait to see him fall. I turned...
Just in time to see Remi throw herself in front of Jack.
Another man had surged from the brush, and Remi didn’t hesitate.
Bang. Bang.
Two shots from her gun dropped him.
But not before his knife caught her hip.
She staggered.
“Remi!” I rushed to her side, catching her as she grabbed a tree for support. Blood bloomed across her jeans and shirt, dark and fast.
“I’m fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “Just a graze.”
“You’re not fine. We need to get you looked at or at least wrap it...”
“No,” she snapped. “You need to go.”
My gut twisted. “I’m not leaving you.”
“You have to find Ava.” Her eyes were wide, frantic. “Harlan, listen to me. She’s out here. Alone. She’s running out of time.”
I looked at her, torn in two. She was pale, shaking, still braced against the tree.
“I just need to catch my breath,” she lied. “I’ll be right behind you. I promise.”
A sound cracked through the trees, a gunshot. Distant, but not distant enough.
“Go!” she shouted, pushing me away with her empty hand. “If something happens to her because you stayed here...”
Another gunshot, closer.
“Move!” she screamed.
I hesitated one more second... one second to be sure.
Then I turned and ran.
The forest blurred around me.
