I stay at the rear automatically, firing blind suppression rounds toward flashes of movement inside the smoke.
Because that’s where the threat is.
Because that’s where she is.
I glance back through the haze.
Olivia’s still moving uphill beside Hannah.
Slower than everyone else.
One hand pressed against her side.
But moving.
Alive.
That’s enough.
A figure bursts suddenly through the smoke straight toward us.
Too close.
I fire once.
The man collapses immediately.
Another appears behind him—
Clay drops him before I can even raise my weapon again.
“Keep moving!” he snaps.
We break out of the smoke cloud hard and fast—
Straight into open terrain.
And my stomach drops instantly.
Engines roar ahead.
Not distant anymore.
Close.
Very close.
“Russ!”
Lucas points toward the canyon opening.
Vehicles block the path ahead.
Three of them.
Men already climbing out with rifles raised.
Damn it.
