Chapter 91 Carter
Carter
The air was a storm of lead and smoke, bullets sparking off metal, tearing bark from trees. My lungs burned, ears ringing, but my focus cut razor-sharp.
“Push right!” River shouted again, signaling with two fingers before firing another burst.
Cyclone laid down heavy fire, his rifle roaring, each blast ripping through Redwood muscle as they tried to close the gap. Gideon darted low, quick and lethal, his sidearm cracking in controlled rhythm.
I grabbed Sable by the collar and yanked him out of the SUV, half-dragging, half-shoving him toward the tree line. He stumbled, cursing, but I kept the barrel of my rifle jammed into his back. If Redwood wanted him, they were going to have to go through me.
Rounds hissed past, one tearing a hot line across my shoulder. Pain flared, sharp and bright, but I gritted my teeth and kept moving. Harper’s face flashed in my mind—her smile, her voice, the way she whispered always.
That word was my armor.
We broke toward the right flank, River clearing the path with surgical precision. One down, two down, bodies dropping into the dirt. The air stank of cordite and blood.
“Clear enough!” River barked. “Move now!”
Cyclone surged ahead, Gideon at his side. I shoved Sable forward, forcing his injured leg to keep up, every stumble answered with the dig of my rifle to keep him moving.
The treeline opened, just enough of a break to slip through. But more engines roared in the distance—reinforcements.
No time.
“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.”