Page 61 of Carter
“Go!” I roared, shoving Sable into River’s grip as I turned back, laying down suppressive fire, my rifle kicking against my shoulder in steady rhythm. Redwood men ducked, hesitated, and that hesitation was enough.
River hauled Sable into cover, Gideon dragging gear behind, Cyclone firing wild to keep their heads down. I fell back step by step, firing until the magazine clicked empty. I slammed in a fresh one without breaking stride.
When I dove into the tree line with them, chest heaving, Sable gasped out a laugh, twisted and raw.
“You can’t outrun Redwood forever.”
I pressed the muzzle of my rifle to his jaw, my voice low and lethal. “Watch me.”
92
Harper
The cabin was too quiet.
I paced the length of the living room, the old floorboards groaning under my bare feet. Every creak felt like a countdown, every gust of wind through the trees like a whisper of something gone wrong.
I tried to tell myself this was just another mission for him, just another op he would come back from. But deep down, I knew better. This wasn’t just about a mission. This was about me. My name. My life painted on some list I hadn’t chosen.
I pressed my hands together so tightly my knuckles burned. Carter had promised mealways. He’d looked me in the eye and sworn he’d come back. And I believed him—God, I did—but belief didn’t stop the fear crawling up my throat.
I went to the window, peering out into the fog curling between the trees. I couldn’t see the road, couldn’t hear anything but my own heartbeat, loud and frantic.
What if this time was different?
I shook my head hard, whispering into the silence, “No. He’s coming back. He has to.”
The words steadied me for a moment, but only just.Because somewhere out there, gunfire was cracking, engines were roaring, and Carter was in the middle of it.
And I couldn’t do a damn thing but wait.
I curled into the chair by the fire, hugging my knees to my chest, clinging to the one truth I had left: no matter what Redwood threw at us, Carter wasn’t just fighting a battle.
He was fighting his way back to me.
93
Carter
We stumbled deeper into the forest, the roar of engines fading behind us until all that was left was the rasp of our breathing and the crunch of branches underfoot.
River dropped Sable against a tree, the prisoner groaning as his injured leg buckled. Cyclone stayed at the edge of the clearing, rifle raised, eyes sweeping the ridgeline. Gideon collapsed to a crouch, his laptop clutched tight, sweat streaking down his temple.
I leaned against a trunk, chest heaving, blood seeping warm from the graze on my shoulder. My rifle was still steady in my hands, though every muscle screamed for rest.
But rest wasn’t an option. Not now.
“We lost them,” River said, his voice clipped, steady. “For now.”
“For now isn’t good enough,” I growled, shoving away from the tree. “They’ll regroup. They’ll circle back harder. We need to move before they box us in again.”
Sable laughed low, head tipped back against the bark. “You think you escaped? Redwood doesn’t lose sight of itsprey. They’re already tracking you. Every mile you run just tightens the noose.”
I slammed the stock of my rifle into his good leg, his cry echoing through the trees. “Keep talking, and I’ll make sure you crawl the rest of the way.”
River’s eyes flicked to me—caution and agreement all at once. “We need him alive, Carter.”
“I know,” I bit out, forcing my rage down.
