Page 15 of Enticing Kane

“Stay low!” he shouted; his voice barely audible over the din. He returned fire, his shots precise and controlled, taking down two of the militants who had exposed their position on a rooftop. But they were outnumbered, and the situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.

Maggie’s breathing was fast and shallow, her eyes wide with shock, but she didn’t panic. Instead, she scanned their surroundings, as if she, too, had her mind working furiously to find a way out. Kane noticed the shift in her demeanor, the way she focused in the face of danger, and it sparked a new level of respect for her. She wasn’t just a civilian caught in the crossfire—she was a quick thinker, and she wasn’t about to give up.

“We need to get to the Jeep,” Maggie said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.

Kane nodded, knowing she was right. Staying here would only get them pinned down. They needed to move, and fast. He reloaded his weapon, keeping one hand on Maggie’s arm as they prepared to make a run for it.

“On my signal,” Kane said, his voice calm and commanding. “Stay close, and don’t stop for anything.”

Maggie nodded, her grip tightening on the pistol in her hand. Kane took a deep breath, his mind calculating the odds, the angles, every possible outcome. Then, with a burst of adrenaline, he stood and fired a volley of shots at their attackers, creating a momentary gap in the gunfire.

“Go!” he shouted, pulling Maggie to her feet.

They sprinted across the square, dodging between stalls and crates, the ground kicking up dust beneath their feet. Kane’s heart pounded in his chest, every sense heightened as he kept Maggie close, his eyes scanning for threats. They were almost to the Jeep when a group of militants rounded a corner, blocking their path.

Kane reacted instantly, firing off several shots that took down two of the men, but there were more behind them. He and Maggie were pinned down, and the militants were closing in. The situation was dire, but Maggie didn’t hesitate.

“There!” she shouted, pointing to a narrow alley that led away from the market square. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Kane’s arm and pulled him toward it.

They darted into the alley, the narrow space providing temporary cover from the gunfire. But the militants were hot on their heels, and Kane knew they wouldn’t have much time. The alley twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the maze of buildings. Maggie’s quick thinking had bought them a few moments, but they needed to make the most of them and get back to the Jeep if they were going to have any chance of escaping.

Kane could hear the militants shouting to each other, their voices growing closer. He glanced at Maggie, seeing the determination etched on her face, the way she moved with purpose despite the danger. She was handling the situation with a level of composure that impressed him more than he expected.

“We’re almost there,” Kane said, his voice breathless as they rounded another corner. “Keep moving.”

The alley opened up into a wider street, and Kane could see the Jeep just ahead, parked where they had left it. But the militants had caught up, and the sound of gunfire echoed through the narrow space. Kane shoved Maggie behind a stack of barrels, using the momentary cover to return fire.

“We need to make a break for it,” Kane said, his mind racing for a plan. “I’ll cover you. Get to the Jeep and start the engine. I’ll be right behind you.”

Maggie’s eyes met his, and for a split second, he saw something there—something more than just fear or determination. It was trust, an unspoken understanding that they were in this together. She nodded, her jaw set, and without another word, she bolted toward the Jeep.

Kane laid down suppressing fire, taking out two more militants as Maggie reached the vehicle. He could hear the engine roar to life, and he knew they had only seconds before their attackers closed in. He fired a final volley of shots, then sprinted toward the Jeep, his body moving on pure instinct.

Maggie had the Jeep in gear, ready to go as soon as Kane jumped in. He barely had time to slam the door shut before she floored the gas pedal, the vehicle lurching forward as they sped out of the town. Bullets pinged off the metal frame, but they were moving too fast for the militants to get a clear shot.

Kane kept his weapon trained on the rear window, ready to fire if anyone gave chase, but after a few minutes, the gunfire faded into the distance. They were safe, for now.

Maggie didn’t slow down until they were several miles away from the town, the desert stretching out before them in all directions. Her hands gripped the wheel tightly, her knuckles white, but her expression was calm and focused. Kane glanced at her, his heart still racing from the adrenaline, and found himself marveling at her composure. He reached over and loosened her grip.

“Why don’t you let me drive?” he asked softly. Maggie just nodded. When they’d switched places, Kane said, “You did good back there.” He was glad to hear his voice was steady despite the chaotic thoughts running through his mind.

Maggie gave him a quick, sidelong glance, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Thanks. I didn’t grow up a rancher’s daughter in Kansas for nothing.”

Kane chuckled softly, the tension in his body slowly beginning to unwind. The danger had passed, but the adrenaline was still coursing through his veins, making it hard to think straight. He was impressed—no, more than impressed—by how Maggie had handled herself. She had kept her cool under pressure, thought quickly on her feet, and hadn’t hesitated when it mattered most.

They drove in silence for a while, the vast emptiness of the desert a stark contrast to the life-or-death struggle they had just escaped. Kane’s mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, his thoughts bouncing between the mission, the danger, and the woman sitting beside him.

The dig site was quiet as they returned, the other members of the team still unaware of the ambush they had narrowly escaped. Kane parked the Jeep, his hands still gripping the wheel for a moment longer than necessary before he finally let go. He felt a strange sense of loss as he watched Maggie climb out of the vehicle, as if something important had just slipped through his fingers.

Back at camp, the near-death experience left them both shaken. Kane could see it in Maggie’s eyes, the way she moved a little slower, her usual energy dampened by the weight of what they had just gone through. It was a reminder of how close they had come to losing everything, of how fragile life really was out here.

Maggie walked toward her tent, but then she paused, turning back to look at him. Her eyes were searching, filled with an emotion that Kane couldn’t quite place. He got out of the Jeep and moved toward her, feeling an invisible pull drawing them closer together.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice softer than he intended.

Maggie nodded, but the tension in her shoulders told a different story. “I’m fine. Just... processing, I guess.”

Kane understood that feeling all too well. The rush of battle, the high of survival, and then the crash that came afterward, when the adrenaline wore off and the reality of what had happened set in. It was a familiar pattern, one he had experienced countless times before. But it felt different now, with Maggie.

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