Kaitlin went instantly still. She kept her muscles relaxed, though her finger tightened on the trigger.
There were only four of the Tel Group, and nearly twenty of them—at least, there would be, once Jake arrived with backup. She tore her gaze away and peered over her shoulder in the direction they would be coming. She could see them crossing the hillside fast.
She glanced at Kane and found him watching her. She’d bet he was burning up with the need to tell her to get back. To move to safety. But he was doing a great job of keeping it in, so she flashed him a smile.
The door opened.
She held a breath, waiting for someone to appear. Did they know they were here?
She was guessing yes. She could sense Jake and the others coming up behind them, but she didn’t take her concentration away from the doorway.
Finally, an arm appeared, and a circular object was hurled in their direction.
“Stun grenade!” Melody shouted already diving to the side.
Arms grabbed at Kaitlin’s shoulders hurling her to the ground, then Kane came down on top of her, and the air left her lungs with awhoosh. Hands came over her ears as the world exploded around them. The shock reverberated through her brain. Black stars danced behind her eyes, and for a moment, everything went dark.
When she came to, she couldn’t move. Was she damaged? Paralyzed? Then she realized Kane was lying on top of her. He was heavy and he wasn’t moving.
She slipped her hand between them and felt for his pulse. It was strong and steady.
“Kane!”
He shifted slightly and groaned. Presumably, he had saved her from the worst of the effects of the blast. He rolled off her, and she scrambled to her feet.
Grabbing the rifle she’d dropped, she looked for someone to shoot. All around, her friends were lying on the ground. Most were starting to stir, but those closest to where the grenade had landed were still unmoving. Off to her left, Jake got to his feet, pressing his hand to his head, and looking frantically around. Christa had been standing right next to him before the grenade had gone off, but now she wasn’t there.
Kaitlin searched beyond the group and her breath caught in her throat. Stella stood with Christa in front of her, a pistol pointed at her head.
Two others stood with laser pistols pointed at their group. She recognized her old friend Clyde.
“Shit,” Kaitlin muttered.
Kane pushed himself to his feet, shaking his head, and blinking. His gaze landed on her, and relief flooded in his eyes.
“Drop your weapons or we shoot her,” Stella said.
At the words, Kaitlin tore her gaze from Kane and moved it back to Christa. She was standing very still. Her gaze fixed on Jake. “Don’t do it,” she said. “We’ll all die anyway.”
Was it over? Had they failed already? Because they couldn’t allow Christa to be shot. Even if it meant the end of the world. And that they would all die anyway.
Jake shook his head. Then he tossed his rifle toward Stella. He pulled the pistol from the holster at his waist and threw that down as well.
He didn’t look at the rest of them.
Kaitlin took a step forward and tossed her own rifle toward Stella. She glanced at Kane, and he gave a small shrug. Then he picked up his weapon from the ground and threw it after hers. The rest of them, who were on their feet, all did the same.
“Kaitlin,” Stella said. “Go around and collect the other weapons. Throw them over here.”
She did as she was told. What else could she do? Her mind scrambled for a way out of this. There were three people still on the ground. Imogen, Stefan and Ryder, had been closest to the blast, and she checked their pulses as she collected their weapons. They were all strong and steady.
Would it matter though? If the bomb went off, they would all die.
She moved slowly, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plan. Anything.
“Kaitlin! The weapons.”
She gritted her teeth and picked up the last rifle, then carried them over and dropped them in front of Stella. “Let her go,” she said.
