“We’ve got them,” Garrett said, voice low. He moved to Harlan’s side without waiting for direction.
Cal nodded at Brenna, then went to the nearest hostage and looped an arm under her shoulders. “Let’s go. We’ve got you.”
The room shifted, full of movement and tension. Harlan, Garrett, and Cal began guiding the hostages toward the exit, steady and fast. Brenna helped the last one up, a younger man limping hard on his left leg.
Then a scream tore through the silence. A woman’s scream. Raw. Terrified. Footsteps followed. Fast. Heavy. Coming straight toward them.
Colt raised his rifle and aimed at the doorway. Brenna dropped to a crouch, knife still in one hand, heart pounding against her ribs.
The footsteps kept coming. No voice. No warning. Whoever was running wasn’t calling for help.
Colt didn’t lower his weapon. Not an inch.
A shadow burst through the doorway.
Colt held steady, finger tight on the trigger.
“Wait!” a voice gasped.
Naomi.
She stumbled into the room, breath ragged, arms twisted behind her back. Her eyes were wide, wild with panic.
“I escaped,” Naomi said, her voice breaking. She sounded like she could barely breathe. “I didn’t think I’d make it.”
Naomi sucked in some hard breaths, the panic rising in every part of her. “You have to go. Now. The place is rigged. Explosives. Everywhere.”
Brenna grabbed her, steadied her before she fell. “Where?”
“Every room. The east hall, the foundation, under the floor.”
Brenna’s grip tightened on Naomi’s arm. Her pulse thundered in her ears. They couldn’t trust this. Couldn’t trust her. But they had no choice.
Beck was still inside.
“How did you escape?” Brenna demanded.
Naomi opened her mouth, closed it and shook her head. “My rope slipped from the ring in the floor, so I stood up. I couldn’t get my hands free, I couldn’t untie them so I ran. I didn’t know what else to do. I left them behind,” she added in a mutter.
Behind. Which meant still in danger.
Brenna looked at Colt. His jaw was tight, and his eyes locked with hers.
“We’re finding Beck,” Colt said. He turned to Garrett. “Get the hostages out. Now.”
Garrett didn’t argue. “On it.”
Cal stepped up beside him, already moving. “Come on. Let’s go.”
The hostages followed, stumbling but moving fast, fear pushing them forward. Naomi hesitated, but Garrett grabbed her arm and pulled her into the group.
Harlan turned to Colt and Brenna. “I’m coming with you.” There was no hesitation in his voice. No room for debate.
Brenna checked her weapon, then fell in behind Colt. Harlan took the rear.
The hallway loomed ahead, shadows thick and shifting.
Another gunshot rang out. Muffled, but close.
