Page 360 of Broken Oath

“He’s going after my brother.”

“I know.”

We ran faster.

Wade felt the mountain dying beneath his feet.

The eastern transport tunnel was less than two hundred yards ahead.

Freedom was that close.

After five years, the night sky waited beyond one final gate.

Grant Barrett and Jackson Cole took point.

Luke Dawson and Jack Parker supported Eric Hale between them.

Sniper covered the rear.

Shark and Reef cleared the intersections.

Wade moved beside his father.

Neither man had stopped watching the other since their reunion.

As if five stolen years could be reclaimed through glances.

As if looking away might make one of them disappear again.

A support beam groaned overhead.

“Move faster!” Sniper ordered.

They reached the final intersection.

Grant raised his fist.

Everyone stopped.

Wade heard it.

A faint scrape of metal.

The click of a rifle selector.

Someone was waiting beyond the corner.

Grant looked back.

Wade pointed toward the right wall, then the ceiling.

One shooter.

Elevated position.

They had used the same signals years ago.

Grant nodded.