Page 153 of Hell and High Water

“I don’t think I can handle both of them on the same team,” Evan grits out.

We’re through the gate at a dead run a moment later.

Gunshots pop a fair way off before we reach Clive’s cabin, several deep booms following right after. We’re just stepping onto the small dirt road leading to the clubhouse when the first shout goes up near us, gunshots whizzing past us, way too close.

I lock up, freezing in my tracks.

“Hell!” someone shouts in my ear, jerking me to the side.

My head clears as I thump down on my ass behind a tree. “Wha?—?”

Gavin snaps a finger in front of my face. Shaking my head, I take a breath and nod to let them know I’m recovered.

“I’m sorry, I just?—”

“Shh. No need to explain.” Tell rests a hand on my shoulder.

Evan gives me a worried look but stays silent.

“Just stay low. Stay quiet. We gotta move.” Gavin crouches ahead of us, leading us into the cover of trees.

“Stay close to me.” Evan finally breaks his silence, leaning in close and pulling me up.

Our little squad sets off, weaving through the dim woods at a trot. With all of the calamity in the distance, we don’t worry about making noise, focusing on speed and staying out of sight.

It takes us five excruciating minutes to reach the main cluster of buildings, the houses and the clubhouse I recognize from the last time I was here.

The memory is a mixed bag, given the circumstances.

This was where Gavin told me how he felt about me. It also happened to be after he got shot and nearly died.

The next encounter happens as soon as we clear the trees.

One of Marco’s soldiers spins out from behind a building, barking an order to announce our presence. Gavin puts one in his head before I can shout, Alaya taking a knee and popping off three shots, eliminating the rest of the group.

A gust of a sigh puffs through my lips as Tell and I exchange stunned glances.

We’re back in motion again, cutting through the tiny homestead as Tell mutters to me, “I knew he was good, but holy shit.”

The swell of pride for one of my guys conflicts with the fear and adrenaline rushing through me.

Evan steps into formation behind Gavin and Alaya ahead, the three of them clearing the area before we proceed, Evan waving us on. Tell brings up the rear, watching our backs. If I ever felt more out of place…

Still. I have to be here. I have to make sure Ora and her people, our people, are safe.

Soon, signs of battle start to emerge around us, bodies. Gun holes in the wooden cabin walls. Smoke drifts past us. A fire is burning somewhere ahead. Likely, the main gate.

Which is exactly where we’re headed, the most likely place we’ll find Ora and Xavier.

On our route, we spot a few fleeing groups of women, children. The horror of the sight breaks my heart, but each band has at least a couple of bikers with them, the leather-clad figures sporting an impressive array of guns and munitions.

Each time we pass, the bikers give us a salute, one of them pausing to mutter a short conversation with Gavin. He nods once, clapping the other man on the arm before waving us on.

“Aside from a few shock troops scaling the fences, most of the force is still at the gate, trying to fight their way in. He said it’s only a matter of time, though.”

The news spurs me forward, the rest of my team falling in at a dead run.

It helps me keep my eyes forward, on the uneven ground as I place one foot in front of the other, ignoring the slumped forms of several people we find along the way. I have to believe that most of them are Marco’s men, not ours.

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