Page 57 of Echo: Burn
"I know." And I do. I know that choosing to stay means choosing to fight. Means accepting that I might die here. But it also means choosing Kane. Choosing this strange family of broken warriors who've decided I'm worth protecting. "I'm not going back. Only forward."
Tommy clears his throat. "Hate to interrupt, but we've got incoming intel. The Committee's pulling assets from three states. They're not just searching anymore. They're preparing for an assault."
"On what?" Kane asks.
"Unknown. But based on the force concentration, they're planning something big. Within seventy-two hours."
Seventy-two hours. Three days. Protocol Seven's deadline.
Kane's jaw tightens. "Then we have three days to figure out what they're planning and stop it." He looks at me. "You sure about this?"
I think about my father. About the secrets he kept. About the years of living in fear that the Committee would come for him or for me. About dying before his time from stress because he couldn't tell anyone what he knew.
I think about the dog I saved who knows where chemical weapons are hidden. About surveillance photos documenting my life like I'm already dead. About Kessler out there somewhere, coordinating twenty-three trained killers, all focused on eliminating me.
And I think about Kane. About the way he came for me when he didn't have to. About his hands on my skin, his voice in my ear, his promise that I'm not alone anymore.
"I'm sure," I say.
Kane steps closer, his hand finding mine. His thumb traces across my knuckles—a small gesture, but in front of his team, it means everything.
"Then welcome to Echo Ridge," he says quietly. "For real this time."
Stryker grins. Mercer nods approval. Even Sarah manages a small smile.
Tommy's screen flashes red before anyone can say more.
"Kane." His voice is tight with urgency. "We've got a breach. Someone just tried to access the auxiliary entrance. The one near your cabin."
Everyone moves at once. Weapons drawn. Combat mode engaged. But Kane keeps hold of my hand for one more second.
"Stay close," he says. "And Willa? Don't make me regret believing you could handle this."
"I won't."
He releases me and moves to the tactical display. Tommy's pulling up security feeds from the auxiliary entrance. The cameras show a figure in tactical gear working on the access panel.
But it's not a Committee operative.
It's a woman. Late twenties, dark hair, moving with professional efficiency as she bypasses the security system.
"Who the hell is that?" Stryker asks.
Tommy works his keyboards, pulling up data. "Facial recognition running... Got her. Karina Miles. Former CIA. Went dark two years ago after accusing her superiors of running illegal operations."
"She's on Protocol Seven's list," Sarah says quietly, pulling up the file. "Number eight. The Committee's been hunting her since she disappeared."
Kane stares at the screen. "How did she find us?"
"Same way Kessler did, probably." Tommy zooms in on the woman's equipment. "She's good. Really good. And Kane? She just got through the first security layer. She'll be inside the base in about ninety seconds."
"Do we engage?" Mercer asks.
Kane watches the screen, calculating. Then: "No. If she's on the Protocol Seven list, she's running from the same people we are. Let her in. But weapons ready. If this is a trick, we end it fast."
The woman clears the second security layer. Then the third. She's moving deeper into the tunnels now, following the access corridor with the confidence of someone who knows exactly where she's going.
Sixty seconds later, she rounds the corner into the operations center.
