Page 74 of V-Day

THE FOREST ERUPTED WITH GUNSHOTS, most of them single. The shouting Chloe could hear echoed among the trees, muffling the words. The tone was panicky. She narrowed down her focus, watching Cristián’s flank. It was his job to watch the other side. If she turned to check, she would create a blind spot.

None of the shots came close to where they stood against the tree, although they both stayed still and silent, their senses racked up to the highest level.

A submachine gun let out a staccato burst and Chloe jumped, startled. She kept the pistol up, though.

The submachine gun fire was the last of the Insurrecto resistance, for shortly after came a sharp three tone whistle.

Then, one after another, Parris’ men appeared, moving down the track.

Chloe lowered her arm. It trembled.

Cristián pushed against the tree, shifting himself away from her. His gaze met hers. “Please don’t do anything soinsane, ever again.”

“It could have worked,” she said defensively. “They would have had to take me back to the base, which would pull them away from you.”

He cupped her cheek, his dark gray eyes glittering with emotion she had trouble understanding, for her heart slammed and her breath stuck in her throat. “Not even to save me,” he insisted.

“The Insurrectos would pay rubies to have you in their interrogation chamber. You’re a key player in this war. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

He shook his head. “Youare the keystone, Chloe. You hold everything up and make it make sense and you will always do that, long after this war is over.”

Her breath evaporated. Chloe could only look at him, her body aching and her heart zooming.

He kissed her.

Chloe lost track of everything except her body and every nerve ending, which fizzed and flared at once.

“Jesus, you two. Get a room.”

Locke’s complaint made Cristián raise his head. “Take a hike, lieutenant,” he growled back.

Locke grinned. “You know how tinny-assed, dumb-lucky you were with that stupid stunt you pulled?”

Cristián nodded. “Down to the last inch, yeah, I do know.”

Parris Graves was standing on the road, her rifle under her arm, grinning. She wiped the grin away when Chloe spotted her and shook her head. “What the fuck am I going to do with you two? We were supposed tosneakto the beach.”

“You could leave us behind, Captain,” Cristián said, stepping away from Chloe.

The air was cool against her now his body heat was gone and she shivered.

“And get my ass kicked for losing a valuable asset? Not happening,” Parris said. “Fifteen minutes, everyone. Eat, if you’ve got food. We’ll push for the beach at best speed now.”

Chloe pulled out her phone.

1 hour, 37 minutes.