The footsteps on the metal grates above us grew louder, accompanied by the harsh clatter of tactical boots. Julian kept me pinned securely behind him, his broad shoulders shielding me from the open view of the staircase.
"Cynthia, we've moved to the lower maintenance docks under the east arch," Julian spoke into his earpiece, his voice drops of pure ice. "Hostiles are closing in. What’s your ETA?"
Static hissed back before Cynthia’s breathless voice broke through. "Bridge is a parking lot, boss. I’ve deployed the secondary extraction team, but they’re catching heavy resistance on the embankments. You have three hostiles descending your position. You need to move south toward the private marina—there’s a water tender stationed there under the Sterling registry."
"Understood," Julian snap
