“No!”
The word tears out of me before I can stop it.
His grip tightens.
I don’t understand the words he’s shouting, but I understand the intent perfectly.
Cold panic surges through me.
Not again.
Not like this—
“Olivia!”
Russ.
Gunfire cracks.
The man jerks suddenly behind me.
Then the pressure disappears.
His hand slips from my arm.
I stumble forward, catching myself on shaking hands as the body hits the dirt behind me.
And Russ is there.
Right there.
Breathing hard.
Eyes black with fury.
His hand catches my arm fast enough to steady me before I fall again.
“Are you hurt?”
The question comes rough.
Sharp.
Terrifyingly focused.
“I’m—”
Another shot cracks through the canyon.
Something slams into my side.
Hard.
For half a second, I don’t understand what happened.
Then heat blooms beneath my ribs.
Sharp.
