“Olivia.”
She exhales shakily. “I got hit again. Opposite side. I don’t know how deep.”
A bullet slams into the wall near us.
I fire back on instinct.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She actually looks offended. “You seemed busy storming a compound.”
Even now.
Even bleeding and exhausted, she still throws those dry little comments at me like she’s holding the world together through sheer stubbornness.
God.
I’m in love with her.
The realization hits so hard and clean there’s no room left to deny it.
No room to run from it either.
“I’m carrying you.”
“No.”
“That wasn’t a request.”
“And I said no.”
“Olivia—”
“If you carry me, you slow down.”
“If I leave you standing, you collapse.”
“I haven’t yet.”
But her voice frays around the edges.
I hear the strain in every breath now.
Clay’s voice explodes through comms.
“Move! Now!”
Flash-bang.
Shouting.
Automatic fire.
Clay and Lucas opening a path.
I grab Olivia’s hand again.
“Run.”
