Page 57 of Burning Hearts

Vince said, “I don’t like this.”

“You’re right,” Hammer called out. “Feels like we’re being herded.”

A rush of cold fear rolled through Logan. “Just get to the plane!”

* * *

Herded?

Jamie didn’t have time to get sucked beneath the undertow of the fear she’d been feeling for hours. All she needed to do was run.

Every ache and pain in her body stretched to life and woke up, making its presence known. She’d tumbled hard from the ATV in a way that meant Tristan hadn’t taken the brunt of the fall. His injuries were far worse than her minimal ones, and if she hadn’t pushed off from letting him take the hit for her, he could’ve been in even worse shape.

They raced to the bottom of the hill.

ATVs crested the top of the hill behind them, spilling over like a great swarm of ants. Four. Two men on each.

She stumbled, her leg muscles screaming. A whimper escaped her lips. They had been lured up here to die, picked off like animals in a hunt. She was someone’s prey, and because Logan cared, an entire crew of smokejumpers was going to be killed along with her.

You shouldn’t have come.

Her brother’s words echoed in her ears. But they were her words—to Logan. At least in her mind. She didn’t want him to die because of her, but after hearing her get kidnapped, he must’ve pulled out all the stops to get up here.

He never would’ve given up.

The fact a man like him cared enough about her to come into a deadly situation after her…She loved that thought as much as she hated that he might die trying to save her.

Someone fired off a round.

Orion stumbled. He dragged himself up, tripping as he kept going.

So many innocent people. They should never have come for her, put their lives on the line not for a community or a family—for her.

She wasn’t worth it.

Logan tugged Jamie across the grass toward where the plane idled on the runway, facing toward them. The ranch house to the left seemed empty. Some abandoned homestead up here in the middle of nowhere? She hoped so.

No one spoke. Everyone just ran for the plane, even though it would have to take off toward the guys behind them. The ones on ATVs shooting at them.

Jamie stumbled. Logan scooped her up, his arms around her waist, and they ran. Her lungs burned. Her legs. Every muscle in her body. Hammer didn’t miss a stride holding up Tristan and keeping pace with everyone else.

The big man called out, “Let’s go! On the plane!”

Almost as soon as he said it, movement over by the abandoned buildings caught her attention. Men spilled out of every door, holding huge rifles. They pointed the weapons at the smokejumpers.

Jamie screamed, “No!”

Tori slammed into the plane, unable to slow down. Orion caught her and helped her in. Jade jumped up behind them. The plane engine roared. Jamie climbed in ahead of Logan.

A gunshot pinged off the side of the plane.

This thing wasn’t bulletproof—someone was going to get killed.

“This is a kill box!” Hammer grunted. “They lured us into a trap!”

From the front, Saxon yelled, “Get in! Everyone get in!”

Jamie scrambled across the floor. Tristan lay in the aisle. From the front seat, Neil yelled, “Everyone get to your seats! Keep your heads down! This is gonna be dicey.”

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