The doors explode inward in a blast of splintering wood and flying snow. Henry bursts through with Tex and Tank behind him, chests heaving, eyes hard and focused.
And Wyatt?—
Wyatt is at the front, his gaze locking on me like the world has narrowed to the space between us.
His eyes drop to the gun in my hands, then back to my face.
He sees what I’m about to do but doesn’t stop me.
He’s here.
He came for me.
And it’s time to finish this.
Chapter 18
Wyatt
The north fence line looks like every bad omen rolled into one—snow churned up, tracks where they shouldn’t be, wire sagging like something big shoved through it.
Tank stands over the broken section, breathing hard, steam curling from his mouth. “This wasn’t weather,” he mutters. “Look at the bend in that post.”
Tex crouches in the snow beside him, gloved fingers skimming the ground. “Tracks double back. Not animal. And this wire—cut, then staged.”
I scan the line of trees. Nothing but shadows, snow, and wind making the pines hiss like a warning.
“Tex,” I say quietly, “check the drone feed again.”
“I’m trying.” He taps his controller. The monitor stays black. “Damn it. Drone Three’s offline. Could’ve gone down in the storm.”
Tank snorts. “Or someone shot it.”
My jaw tightens. “We don’t know that.”
We all know that.
Henry steps up beside me, breath harsh and white in the icy air. “Fence is bait,” he says. “Someone wanted us out here.”
The world narrows behind my ribs.
Henry shakes his head. “We’re missing someth?—”
Movement slashes through the snow.
A small figure breaks from the tree line, running full tilt—stumbling, sliding, gasping. The moment my brain recognizes her, my blood runs cold.
“Shay!” Henry shouts, sprinting toward her.
She practically falls into his arms, grabbing his coat, shaking so hard her teeth chatter. Her face is white, her eyes wild.
“Henry… Henry—” She’s barely forming words. “Sadie—he took Sadie.”
My heart stops.
“What?” Henry cups her face, steadying her. “Slow down. Is Max safe?”
Shay’s nod is fast, frantic. “He’s with Ben… he’s okay. Iran straight here. Wyatt, he has her. He has Sadie.”
