Laurel.

The sound of the first shot cracks through the quiet morning like lightning splitting the sky. I freeze, my pulse leaping into a sprint.

Balz's voice booms from the other side of the cabin. “Move, Laurel!”

Instinct takes over as I duck behind the wooden countertop, heart pounding. The air fills with the sharp scent of gunpowder and splintered wood as bullets tear through the walls.

“Location’s blown!” Balz shouts, his heavy boots stomping toward me.

Sophia is safe, I remind myself, forcing the thought to the forefront of my mind. She’s already on the plane with Dr. Tim, flying to safety.

I just need to make it out of here alive.

The next shot misses my head by inches, shattering a jar on the counter. I glance up, catching a glimpse of the shooter through the haze of dust and debris.

My stomach clenches.

It’s her.

The woman from the hardware store. The one Sophia always insisted was her aunt. Her short hair is pulled back tightly, and her sharp eyes are locked onto me like a predator zeroing in on its prey.

“Damn it,” I mutter under my breath, ducking lower as another bullet whistles past.

Balz reaches my side, grabbing my arm. “We need to get to the truck. Now!”

I nod, clutching my sidearm tightly. Together, we dart toward the back door, zigzagging to avoid the hail of bullets. The cabin splinters around us, every step a gamble.

Outside, the sun is just beginning to rise, and I wonder what time she got our location to be here this early. The truck is parked about fifty yards away, but it feels like miles.

“Cover me!” I bark and Balz raises his rifle.

I nod and sprint toward the truck as he lays down suppressive fire. The roar of gunfire echoes behind me, but I don’t look back. My focus is on the truck, on survival.

Just as I reach the driver’s side door, a sharp, searing pain tears through my upper arm, jolting me to a halt.

The force of the impact spins me slightly, and I nearly lose my balance, clutching at my arm instinctively.

Warm, sticky blood begins to seep through my sleeve, darkening my top in uneven blotches.

I press my hand over the wound, wincing as a fresh wave of pain shoots through me.

My breaths come fast and shallow, my mind racing to assess the damage.

It’s a graze — the bullet skimming just enough flesh to leave its burning mark but not deep enough to be life-threatening.

The sound of gunfire snaps me out of it, the crack of another bullet slamming into the truck door just inches away.

Balz grabs me and practically throws me into the truck. “Stay down!” he orders, slamming the door shut behind me.

He climbs into the passenger seat, and I don’t wait for instructions. The engine roars to life, and I slam my foot on the gas.

“Behind us!” Balz shouts, twisting in his seat to return fire.

I glance in the rearview mirror and curse under my breath. Dana is on a motorcycle, her face calm and focused as she lines up another shot.

“Keep driving!” he yells. “I’ll handle her.”

The truck bounces as I push it to its limits, weaving through the narrow dirt roads. Balz leans out the window, firing off rounds, but the woman is relentless.

A bullet shatters the back window, glass raining down on us.

“She’s too fast!” I shout, gripping the wheel tighter.

“Then drive faster!” he snaps, reloading his rifle.

I push the truck harder, the engine groaning in protest. The woman is gaining on us, her bike a sleek, black blur in the rearview mirror.

Balz fires again, and this time, his shot hits her front tire. The bike wobbles, but she regains control, unshaken.

“She’s not giving up,” I mutter, my voice laced with frustration.

“Neither are we,” Balz growls.

The road opens up ahead, leading to a narrow bridge over a rushing river. I floor the gas pedal, praying the truck can make it.

As we hit the bridge, the woman fires another shot. It slams into the tailgate, and I feel the truck lurch slightly.

“Keep going!” he urges.

I don’t need to be told twice. The bridge creaks and groans beneath us, but we make it across. I don’t slow down, my focus laser-sharp on the road ahead.

The woman doesn’t hesitate. She follows us onto the bridge, her bike roaring like an angry beast.

“Hold on,” I warn, gripping the wheel tightly.

Balz fires one last shot, and this time, it hits its mark. The bike veers wildly to the side, slamming into the railing. The woman is thrown from the bike, tumbling across the bridge.

I don’t stop to see if she gets up. I keep driving, the adrenaline pumping through my veins like fire.

“We lose her?” he asks, his voice gruff.

I glance in the mirror. The bridge is empty. “For now.”

Balz nods, slumping back in his seat. “You okay?”

I glance down at my arm, the blood still oozing from the graze. “I’ll live.”

He grunts in approval.

My focus shifts back to the road. The airstrip isn’t far, and with any luck, we’ll be in the air before anyone else catches up to us.

When we finally reach the plane, I throw the truck into park and jump out, clutching my injured arm. Balz follows, his rifle at the ready.

Dr. Tim is waiting by the plane, his face pale.

“How’s she?” I ask.

“She’s fine,” he assures me. “She’s resting in the back. We’ve already started prepping to remove the chip.”

Relief washes over me, but it’s short-lived. There’s still so much that could go wrong.

I nod and step back, letting him handle the rest. As the plane’s engines roar to life, I take out my phone and dial Miguel.

He picks up on the second ring. “Laurel? What’s going on?”

“We’re compromised,” I say, my voice tight. “But Sophia’s safe for now.”

“Are you okay?” Miguel asks, his tone laced with worry.

“I’m fine,” I lie, glancing at my bloody arm. “It was close, but we made it.”

Miguel sighs heavily. “Laurel, this is getting dangerous. You’re putting yourself at risk—”

“I know,” I cut him off. “But I can’t stop now. Not until we find Emily.”

There’s a long pause on the other end of the line.

“Be careful,” Miguel finally says.

“I will,” I promise, hanging up.

Sophia is safe for now, but the fight is far from over.

Turning back to the truck, I take a deep breath and steel myself. There’s no time to rest, no time to hesitate.

Emily is out there somewhere, and I’ll do whatever it takes to bring her home.