“Don’t,” she says quietly.
The word hits harder than it should.
Because she knows exactly what I’m about to do.
And she knows I’m angry enough to die doing it.
Outside, one of the black SUVs suddenly slams sideways into a militia vehicle hard enough to flip it partially onto its side.
The explosion that follows shakes the entire warehouse.
Fire erupts near the river entrance.
Smoke thickens rapidly.
And then—
One of the new operators steps through the loading dock smoke.
Everything inside me goes alert immediately.
Tall.
Black tactical gear.
Suppressed rifle.
His movements are calm despite the firefight exploding around him.
Too calm.
The militia commander sees him too.
And for the first time—
The commander looks afraid.
Interesting.
The operator removes his headset slowly while scanning the loading dock.
Then his eyes land directly on Hannah.
Everything stops.
Not the fighting.
Me.
Because the look on this guy’s face when he sees her—
Recognition.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
No.
