Page 341 of Broken Oath

I wanted to scream at him.

I wanted to shove him away and run.

Then I remembered my promise.

If he said move, I moved.

If he said wait, I waited.

Together.

I nodded.

We cleared the final intersection.

The western stairwell door opened.

Sniper emerged first.

Shark followed.

Then Reef.

Behind them came men in stolen tactical gear and bloodstained prison clothes.

Thin.

Bearded.

Scarred.

Armed.

Men the world believed were dead.

My eyes moved from one face to another.

Not him.

Not him.

Not—

Wade stepped through the door.

The world stopped.

The gunfire disappeared.

The alarms faded.

The explosions became distant thunder.

For one terrible second, I couldn’t move.

Couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t think.