Ronan was on his feet before the echo of the second shot had fully died, pulling me up and behind him in the same fluid motion I was starting to recognize as pure instinct rather than conscious decision, his whole body angled toward the compound wall where the shots had come from.
Perimeter, he barked toward the nearest guard, already moving toward the sound, and within seconds the quiet compound had erupted into controlled chaos, members pouring out of buildings half dressed, weapons appearing from places I had not known existed, the whole place transforming from sleepy midnight calm into something coiled and ready in a matter of heartbeats.
Stay behind the treeline, near the garage, Ronan said to me, already moving. Do not come toward the wall no matter what you hear.
I did not argue
