Page 108 of Sinner's Salvation

Anna closed her eyes for a moment. “Are you sure we can trust him?”

“He hasn’t been surprised by any of this,” Evan told her. “I know him. There is more going on than you or I knew about. He’ll be here.”

“He’ll want to talk, understand...things, and I don’t know if we have time for that. If Mason and Magnus are being flown out soon...” she let her voice trail off. “Then there’s Brian, Baz, and Nika, who are also vulnerable to capture.” The expression on her face was bleak. As if she’d lost hope. As if she’d been treading water for hours, had used up all her energy, and had taken her last breath.

“Let’s tackle the situation one step at a time,” he told her. “Focus on our next step, not the twentieth.”

“Okay,” she said, nodding. “Okay.”

He took her hand, and she gripped his like she’d never let go.

He loved it. Especially because she was so strong and tough. For her to allow herself to lean on him for support was huge.

“Hey,” he said. “Look at me.”

She met his gaze.

“You aren’t alone.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m all in, all the way.”

She swallowed hard. “Things aren’t looking so good, Evan. You might regret saying that.”

“Nope. Nada. Never. You’re my ride or die.”

For a moment, her face reflected every emotion she was trying to keep from escaping: Fear, worry, hopelessness, anger, despair, and at the very end...joy.

“You’re crazy, you know that, right?”

“Crazy for you,” he replied, with a smile in his voice.

She snorted and, for a moment, he’d never been happier.

Movement ahead of them caught both of their attention and they crouched near the tunnel wall.

A flashlight appeared in the poor light, weaving back and forth across the tunnel in a searching pattern.

Shit.

Evan eased forward so he could push Anna behind him. She resisted at first, but finally moved to where he wanted her, out of sight.

The movement resolved into the outline of several bodies coming their way, walking at a slow, deliberate pace he recognized. This was no SWAT team. He’d done this exact mission before when he was in the special forces.

Advance recon in a potentially hostile environment.

These guys were Army.

He could feel Anna behind him, and was aware that she was peeking over his shoulder at the oncoming team.

“They’re dressed like you,” she said. “Exactly like you.”

One of the flashlights passed right in front of him and suddenly the men coming toward them all stopped.

He’d been seen.

The holder of the light didn’t move it. It stayed in front of him, not on him. Not blinding him. An interesting choice.

“Lieutenant Gunn?” a man asked. Not Aaron Marek. Shit.

But they were being courteous, so he’d return the favor. “Yes.”

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