It’s about the woman Boone cares about most—
Standing at gunpoint in the dark.
24
Boone
Everything inside me locks down the moment Wren cries out.
The sound cuts straight through the night.
Through the wind.
Through the distance between us.
Through every bit of training that tells me not to react.
My instincts don’t care about training.
They care about her.
I take another step toward the edge of the porch.
Adam’s hand comes up slightly beside me.
Not stopping me.
Just reminding me to think.
Russ’s rifle stays steady, aimed squarely at the man holding Wren.
“Let her go,” I say again.
My voice is calm.
Cold.
But every muscle in my body is tight.
The man behind Wren laughs under his breath.
“Doesn’t look like you’re in charge here.”
Russ answers him immediately.
“Keep talking and see how long you stay standing.”
Mara ignores them.
Her eyes stay on me.
“You’re running out of time, Boone.”
“Then stop wasting it.”
“Take command of the system.”
“No.”
