To steady herself.
I can feel her shaking now.
Just slightly.
First time all night.
That terrifies me more than the guns do.
Russ slowly shifts closer on Hannah’s other side.
Protective formation.
Lucas and Miles move civilians farther behind cover near the office corridor.
Good.
At least somebody’s thinking clearly.
Because rage is starting to flood my bloodstream so fast it’s getting hard to breathe.
The militia commander suddenly laughs harshly near the loading dock wall.
“Well,” he mutters, “now everyone finally understands.”
Gabriel’s gaze never leaves the masked soldiers.
But his voice lowers slightly.
“They’re earlier than expected.”
Expected.
Of course he knew about them too.
“Hannah,” I say quietly without looking away from the threat in front of us, “when I say move, you run.”
“No.”
Jesus Christ.
I glance back at her sharply.
“This is not negotiable.”
“Neither is abandoning you.”
The words hit me like a punch straight to the chest.
Wrong time for my heart to completely betray me.
Very wrong time.
The lead masked soldier lifts one gloved hand slightly.
Every soldier behind him adjusts position immediately.
Perfect synchronization.
