Page 19 of Whispers and Warriors
His gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, showing him the back through the pass-through window. Emma was nestled against Alex in the back. Bash sat with his hand on the back door handle as if he wanted to be ready to flee at any moment. Chris couldn’t see William, but he knew the youngest member of his unit was back there.
A fierce protectiveness surged through him, steeling his determination that he would get them down safely long before General Bardini got close. He would keep her safe this time, even if it meant sacrificing everything. Failure was not an option.
Chris did his best to keep his thoughts away from the kind man who’d saved them for at least the second time. First with his transmission and a place to stay, and then the option for a different kind of escape. That man and his family took these risks, but it was Chris’s team that took advantage of those risks and now the stranger might pay.
With his family.
The tires hugged the dirt with each hairpin swerve Chris made in effort to avoid a tree. He’d never take the truck for granted again after this idiotic path. Assuming it made it off the mountain.
As the truck rounded another bend, the trees started to thin out, revealing glimpses of the valley and abandoned roads below.
“We’re almost to the bottom. You can all breathe back there.”
While Chris didn’t hear a collective sigh of relief, but he sure as hell felt one himself.
When the road leveled out, and a small measure of relief temporarily grounded him as the worst of the descent was behind them. The truck ate up the miles, putting more distance between them and General Bardini, but still not enough. Each passing minute brought them closer to a temporary reprieve, to a chance to catch their breath and regroup.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the base of the mountain. Chris pulled off onto a dirt road, following it until they were concealed beneath a canopy of towering evergreens. Putting the vehicle in park, Chris killed the engine. The sudden silence a stark contrast to the roar that he’d grown so used to hearing.
Turning in his seat, his gaze swept over his team—his family. They were battered and weary, but they were alive. They had made it down the mountain, but that was still less than half the way to safety. They would have to keep moving, keep fighting, until they found a place where they could be truly safe.
“I just need ten minutes to chill my nerves. That fucking mountain felt like it was going to be our end.”
Chris didn’t need to explain himself, but he still did. He was the leader, but he respected them and if someone else wanted to drive now, he wouldn’t stand in their way.
“Take what you need.” Liam grabbed the map book from the console and started flipping through it.
Allowing himself a momentary reprieve, Chris leaned his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes. The adrenaline that had been coursing through his veins began to ebb, replaced by a bone-deep weariness. The soft rustle of pages beside him told him Liam studied the map, no doubt charting their next move.
Liam’s voice broke through his thoughts. “I think I’ve found a route that will keep us off the main roads and away from any potential trouble. It’s a bit longer, but it should be safer.”
Chris nodded, trusting Liam’s judgment implicitly. The man had a knack for navigation and strategy, a skill that had saved their hides more times than he could count.
A wet nose nudged Chris’s hand, startling him into opening his eyes. He glanced down to find Ranger resting his head on his thigh, the dog’s soulful eyes gazing up at him with a mix of trust and concern.
For a moment, Chris stared back, surprised by the unexpected gesture of comfort. In the midst of the chaos and danger, it was easy to forget the simple, steadfast presence of a dog. Especially because the pup usually only followed Liam and Emma and was literally in Liam’s lap.
Well, had been.
Chris reached down, scratching behind Ranger’s ears as a wry smile tugged at his lips.
“How the hell did we let it get this bad, buddy?” Chris murmured, his voice low and rough with emotion.
Ranger let out a soft whine, as if sensing the weight of the question.
Chris sighed, his hand still absently petting the dog as his mind wandered. They had been so confident, so sure of their ability to protect Emma and rebuild some semblance of a normal life. But the world had a way of shattering even the best laid plans, leaving them scrambling for survival in the face of relentless threats.
His gaze drifted back to the rearview mirror, adjusting it until he could see Emma clearly. She was still tucked securely against Alex, her face pale but determined in the dim light.
“Emma,” he called softly, waiting until her eyes met his in the mirror. “I’m going to keep you safe. Better than last time. I promise.”
His words carried the weight of an unbreakable vow, a solemn pledge to shield her from the dangers that seemed to lurk around every corner. Last time they had been on the run, he had failed her—failed all of them.
But not this time.
This time, he would do whatever it took to ensure their survival, no matter the cost.
Emma held his gaze for a long moment, her expression a mix of trust and trepidation as she chewed her lower lip. She nodded slowly, acknowledging the promise, the unspoken understanding that passed between them.
