Because he’s right.
I decided the second Russ said her name.
I stare back out into the darkness below us.
“She knows how to survive.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Of course it isn’t.
I exhale slowly through my nose and don’t answer.
The helicopter banks sharply east, turbulence rattling the cabin hard enough to shake equipment loose from the walls.
Lucas grabs an overhead strap with one hand.
“Intel update,” he calls out while studying the tablet Russ handed him. “Possible compound twenty miles north of the border.”
“Possible?” Miles repeats.
“Heat signatures. Vehicle traffic. Not enough to confirm.”
I’m on my feet before he even finishes speaking.
Too fast.
Pain slices through my ribs hard enough to steal half a breath.
I hide it by grabbing the overhead strap tighter.
Russ notices anyway.
Of course he does.
“You good?” Lucas asks.
“I’m fine.”
Miles mutters something under his breath that sounds a lot likethere it is again.
I ignore him.
Russ steps closer, voice low enough the others can’t hear him over the rotors.
“You burn yourself out before we get there, you’re useless to her.”
The words hit harder than they should.
Because he doesn’t say mission.
Doesn’t say team.
He says her.
My eyes lift slowly to his.
“I said I’m good.”
