Page 31 of Zero Visibility

He slipped his arm around Jen’s waist and assisted her to her feet. Together, they headed for the hatch behind Tegan and Peter.

“You holding up okay?” He whispered.

She forced a smile for his sake. “Yes, but I want to go someplace where people aren’t shooting at us, please.”

He chuckled, and they eased down the steps.

“Will, can you drive?” Ben helped Jen into the third-row seat while the others crowded in. “Isaac, what’s the best way to get out of here?”

“To your right. It’ll be thick tree coverage for a while, and then you’ll hit a forest service road that will take you to a county road that’s rarely used. It’s closed in the wintertime, but this SUV should make it okay with the snow chains.”

Ben settled in next to Jen, and she leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

“We’re only a hundred miles away from the compound,” Ben whispered against her ear. “This is almost over, babe.”

Jen didn’t answer. In her heart she knew it wouldn’t be anywhere near that simple.

Chapter Eleven

“There’s someone behind us.” Will’s voice broke the silence inside the vehicle.

Ben opened his eyes and glanced over his shoulder. A single set of headlights in the distance.

“You said this road is normally closed?” he asked Isaac.

“That’s right. Until spring. Only forest service people come this way. At this time of the night, there shouldn’t be anyone up here.”

Thankfully, Will had been driving without headlights, which would keep the vehicle from seeing them, but they couldn’t disguise their tracks.

“Let’s get off this road and out of sight. If we have to make a stand, I’d rather do it where we have some control over the circumstances.” Ben kept a close eye on the vehicle. They hadn’t increased their speed yet. He had no doubt the driver had seen their tracks in the snow by now.

Will eased the SUV from the road and into a grove of trees.

“Tegan, stay here with the civilians. The rest of us will move into position near the road in case there’s trouble.” Jen grabbed his arm when he started to leave. Ben turned to face her. All her fears for him were displayed on her pretty face. “Don’t worry. Keep the handgun close and stay out of sight.”

She slowly nodded. “I love you. Stay alive for me. For us.” She pointed to the baby and Ben touched her stomach.

“I will. I promise.” With a final kiss, he got out.

Peter indicated the headlights slowly moving their way. “They’re almost here.”

“Let’s get into position.” Ben edged toward a cluster of trees near the road while praying they wouldn’t have to defend themselves again.

The vehicle stopped abruptly near where they’d gone off the road.

“I can’t see how many there are inside.” Ben had a feeling it was loaded with Legion’s soldiers.

The doors facing them opened and two armed gunmen climbed out. Ben’s heart rate accelerated as additional men exited from the opposite side.

“They’re over here,” someone yelled behind them. Ben’s gut clenched. He recognized the voice. It was Tegan’s. His friend.

Their betrayer.

Ben whirled. Tegan held a gun against Jen’s head.

Though he saw it with his own eyes, Ben struggled to make sense of it. “Tegan? What are you doing?” He latched onto Jen’s frightened eyes. “It’s going to be okay.” He did his best to reassure her of what he no longer believed.

“I had to,” Tegan blurted out in a distraught voice while the gun shook in his hand. “They threatened to kill my little brother.”

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