Chapter 25
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
JJ’s gun didn’t waver as he aimed it at them. “To start with, you’re going to hand over Michael. Now.”
Rex’s voice stayed measured, a shade too calm. “You’re really going to kill all of us, JJ? You know I have other agents besides the ones here. They’ll find you.”
“Then I guess I’ll have other problems on my hands after this. I’ll deal with them later.” JJ flicked his gaze toward Michael. “Get up.”
Michael hesitated, glancing at Olive. “You can’t—”
“Do it,” Rex ordered.
Olive jerked her gaze toward Rex, her eyes widening. “Rex—”
“Do it,” he repeated, his tone firm.
His eyes met hers for half a heartbeat, and she saw it—something flickering there.
A signal.
Jason moved slightly behind her, subtle as breath.
Olive’s heart raced. She glanced beside her. Saw the fire poker.
Her best choice of weapon right now.
This was their plan.
Misdirection. Make JJ think they were giving in. That they didn’t care about Michael.
Then take him by surprise.
Rex stepped aside, motioning Michael forward. “I’m not willing to risk my team for this guy. Take him. He’s yours.”
Michael’s face went white, and he began shaking with panic. “You can’t do this—”
Rex’s look silenced him.
JJ’s stance loosened just a fraction—victory creeping in at the edges of his face. “Smart choice.”
“But—” Michael started.
JJ motioned toward the door. “We’re leaving. Now.”
That was Olive’s cue.
In one motion, she grabbed the fire poker and swung it upward, hitting JJ’s wrist.
Jason lunged, slamming JJ back into the wall.
They grappled, boots sliding on the wood floor.
Tevin’s drone buzzed to life again—a whirring distraction that pulled JJ’s eyes for a split second.
It was all Olive needed.
She charged forward, shoving JJ’s arm against the wall.
The gun clattered across the floor, spinning out of reach.
But JJ was fast—faster than she expected.
He twisted, driving an elbow into Jason’s ribs.
Then he dove for the fallen gun.
The world seemed to slow—the scrape of metal, the sound of Olive’s breath, the flicker of firelight.
Then—
Bang!
The sound tore through the room.
Gunfire.
Someone screamed.
Then everything went still.
Someone had been shot, she realized.
Olive just wasn’t sure who.
For a heartbeat, Olive couldn’t move.
The sharp, metallic scent of gunfire hit the back of her throat.
JJ stood frozen, eyes wide in shock.
Red bloomed across his chest.
Then his knees buckled.
He hit the floor hard, a dark stain spreading beneath him.
Behind him—at the open door—stood Warren.
He held a rifle, the barrel still faintly smoking, snow caught in his beard and coat. “Guess I got back just in time.”
Mara gasped, covering her mouth. “Warren! Where—?”
“I went to the old hunting cabin.” He stepped inside, eyes never leaving JJ, who moaned on the floor as blood continued to spread.
“It’s about a half mile up the ridge. I wanted to check it out—just in case.
When I got there, I found tracks, a fire still warm, and a stash of rations and ammo.
Figured whoever’d been camping there wasn’t the friendly kind. ”
Olive glanced at JJ and shook her head. No, JJ hadn’t been the friendly kind. He’d been staying there, waiting to make his move.
Warren paused, breath clouding in the cold air swirling through the open door. “Then I found this.”
He reached into his coat and tossed something onto the table—a plastic Pac-Man.
JJ’s.
Warren’s voice softened. “I didn’t know how deep this ran, but I knew something wasn’t right. I waited for the storm to ease before coming back. Guess my timing worked out.”
Silence filled the room again—shaken breaths, the distant moan of wind, the crackle of fire.
JJ was alive—and based on where the bullet had hit, he would recover.
Before Olive could let down her guard and allow herself to believe this was all over, a loud sound filled the air. Lights appeared in the sky above, so bright they were blinding.
“Is it a chorus of heavenly angels?” Mitzi asked, her voice dry.
“That doesn’t sound like anyone singing to me,” Jason muttered.
Olive held her breath.
Had Winterlight sent backup?
They were about to find out.