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“I’m not going to hurt you,” the voice whispered, so low I could barely even hear it. “I’m… a friend.”
I spun around, and found myself staring into the weathered, wizened face of another soldier. He was no older than Evan or Joshua or Cole, but there was a deep wisdom etched into the wrinkles of his sun-bronzed forehead. Head to toe, he was armed and armored.
“You’re Ripley,” I murmured.
The man nodded slowly. A full complement of military gear creaked under the weight of his Kevlar vest.
“W—Where’s Evan?” I stammered.
He shook his head, indicating he didn’t know, or maybe he was telling me to stop talking. Either way, he motioned for silence with an outstretched finger before peeking slowly back around the rocky outcropping, in the direction of the makeshift road.
I could hear voices, shouting, and the barking of orders. My stomach rolled in panic as I realized I could barely hear the chopper anymore. It was far away in the distance now, as were Cole and Joshua.
My chin sank to my chest.
“Hey…”
A rough, calloused hand brushed mine. When I looked up again, it was into a pair of piercing green eyes.
“I need you to stay with me.”
I bit my lip and nodded. The presence of Ripley was comforting, as all three of the guys had talked about him extensively. In every one of the stories they’d told me, I knew he was the one man they all trusted.
Ripley went back to watching the road for what seemed like a long time. Eventually he reached back with one hand, making signals with his fingers that I didn’t know.
“I… I don’t…”
He turned, confused for a moment, then looked apologetic. Motioning me over, he put his lips to my ear again.
“Four of them. Coming this way.”
Before I could react, something cold and hard was pressed into my hand. My fingers closed around it, and I found myself holding a pistol.
“Safety’s off,” Ripley whispered.
I should’ve felt fear, even terror. I was trapped in a strange place, being stalked by people who wouldn’t possibly listen to reason. There was zero doubt: these men were coming to kill us.
Instead I loosened my death-grip on the weapon, allowing it to feel more comfortable in my hand.
“How many shots do I have?”
Ripley raised a pleasantly-surprised eyebrow. Setting his own rifle against his shoulder, his mouth twisted into a grin.
“More than enough,” he smirked.
Forty-Seven
JOSHUA
There were plans you made with precision, and plans you made on the fly. But no matter how much you considered, no matter how carefully you plotted things out, there were always variables you couldn’t control. Variables that could take your pants down and fuck you from behind without a moment’s notice, especially if you weren’t paying attention to just how quickly shit could go sideways.
And damn. Shit had gone sidewaysrealquick.
“Up there. See that ridge?”
Cole didn’t answer, but that was all the answer I needed. He turned the steering wheel to the right, veering us in the direction I’d pointed.
“Get in close to the wall.”
