Miles drags one terrified teenager through the gap while Clay fires overhead cover.
Then—
“Russ!”
Olivia.
Even through gunfire, I know her voice instantly.
I don’t turn.
Can’t afford to.
“What?”
“Be careful.”
The words hit somewhere low and dangerous in my chest.
Almost enough to make me look back.
Almost.
Instead I reload fast and fire again.
“Always am.”
Lie.
Biggest one I’ve told all day.
Behind me, I hear the last civilians squeezing through the pass.
“Final group moving!” Lucas shouts.
Good.
Clay falls back first.
Then Miles.
Lucas next.
I stay last automatically, covering the choke point while bullets hammer the rocks around me.
One of the enemy fighters rushes forward below.
Too aggressive.
I drop him before he makes five steps.
The others slow immediately after that.
Smart.
They know charging this pass gets them killed.
Which buys us seconds.
