Heist of the Heart

Burn It All Down

The shed smelled of rust and wood rot, the scent clinging to Nina’s clothes as she crouched beside Sam. His breathing was ragged, the pain from his shoulder still gnawing at him, but his focus remained sharp—he knew what was at stake. Neither of them had the luxury of panic. Not now.

Outside, the agents were closing in. Claire’s soldiers were meticulous, trained to flush out anyone with a heart beating too loudly in their chest. They knew the woods. They knew the terrain. They knew how to move in the dark.

But Nina and Sam were not ordinary targets. They were survivors. And Nina wasn’t about to let Claire Holt—or anyone—take that away from them.

“Wren,” Nina whispered again into the burner phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she held it close. The line was crackling, but she could hear Wren’s voice coming through, quiet but urgent.

“I’m here. Are you in position?” Wren’s words were clipped, the kind of no-nonsense tone that told Nina the plan was already in motion.

“Not yet. We’re in a shed. Surrounded. How much longer?”

“A few minutes. Just hold tight. They’re expecting you to run. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”

The line cut off abruptly, leaving Nina alone with her thoughts and the sound of footsteps growing closer. She could hear the agents talking outside—low murmurs that sent a chill crawling up her spine. They were waiting for her to make the first move.

But Nina wasn’t going to make it easy for them. She wasn’t going to give them that satisfaction.

She glanced at Sam, whose face had taken on a pale, drawn look. Sweat dotted his forehead as he leaned against the wall, clutching his injured shoulder. But there was a fire in his eyes—something that told Nina he wasn’t ready to give up yet.

“We’ll get out of this,” she promised, her voice firm, though she wasn’t entirely sure how. The plan had never been to fight Claire and her people head-on. They’d always hoped for an opening, a c***k in the enemy’s armor, and right now, that opening was Wren.

But the minutes were stretching on, thick and slow, the weight of the silence pressing against her chest. The agents outside were methodical, checking every corner of the cabin, looking for any sign of movement. They were patient. They didn’t need to rush. They had the advantage of numbers.

Nina looked around the shed. There were old crates, rusted farm tools, and a few broken-down barrels. Nothing they could use as a weapon. But she knew one thing: if they were going to make it out of here alive, they couldn’t fight their way out. They’d have to be smarter than that.

“Sam,” Nina said, her voice low but steady. “When I give the signal, I need you to run to the tree line. It’s our best shot. I’ll cover you.”

Sam looked at her, his face etched with exhaustion, but he nodded. “I’m ready.” His voice was hoarse, but there was no fear in it. Only determination.

The ground beneath them suddenly vibrated with the low hum of an approaching vehicle. It was distant at first, but growing louder by the second. The rumble of an engine broke through the stillness of the woods. A car. Or maybe more than one. It was hard to tell.

Nina’s heart skipped a beat. This was it.

The truck was almost at the clearing. The agents outside were moving into position, getting ready for what they thought would be a straightforward capture.

But then, through the c***k in the shed’s wall, Nina saw it.

A flare of light in the distance. A vehicle, larger than the one Claire’s team had been using, speeding down the dirt road.

Wren.

Nina’s pulse surged. She didn’t have much time.

She grabbed Sam’s arm, pulling him toward the back of the shed, where they would have a brief moment of cover. “This is our chance,” she said, her voice intense. “When I give the signal, we run. Full sprint.”

Sam’s eyes hardened with resolve. “You ready?”

Nina’s gaze locked onto him, and for a brief moment, they shared something—an understanding that went beyond words. Whatever happened, they were in this together. And no matter how this played out, they wouldn’t go down without a fight.

The sound of boots outside the shed intensified as more agents approached. Claire was sending in her best people to sweep the area. Nina knew they’d be on them in seconds.

Her grip tightened around the gun in her hand. The barrel was cold, but the familiar weight brought her a small sense of calm.

“Now,” Nina whispered.

She shoved the back door of the shed open with a violent push, and the night air rushed in. She and Sam darted into the trees, moving low and fast. The dense underbrush swallowed them up, giving them a moment of cover.

But the agents weren’t far behind.

The first shot rang out as Sam stumbled, his injured shoulder sending a burst of pain through his body, but he pushed forward, ignoring it.

Nina turned, firing blindly over her shoulder, knowing she was just buying them precious seconds. Her heart raced in her chest, but she kept her movements sharp. No hesitation. Not now.

The sound of Wren’s truck roared closer. She could hear the tires skidding against the dirt road as the vehicle tore down the path toward them. The headlights flashed across the trees, illuminating the path ahead.

“Keep moving!” Nina shouted to Sam.

He didn’t need to be told twice. They were almost there, almost to the clearing where the truck was waiting. But there was no time to waste. More gunfire erupted behind them, and Nina could feel the sting of bullets zipping past her, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. Not now.

Finally, the truck screeched to a halt in front of them, tires kicking up dust as Wren threw open the door.

“Get in!” Wren yelled, her face pale and grim. There was no time for pleasantries.

Nina pushed Sam into the truck, her heart in her throat as she slammed the door shut behind them. She jumped into the driver’s seat, not even bothering to glance behind her.

The engine roared to life, and with a screech of tires, they were gone.

As the truck sped down the winding road, Nina glanced in the rearview mirror, catching one last glimpse of the agents in pursuit. But they were fading now, the distance between them growing longer by the second.

For the first time in hours, Nina allowed herself a breath. They were alive. They had made it.

But it wasn’t over. Not yet.

As they rounded a bend, Wren spoke up, her voice tense. “They’re going to come after you. Claire’s not done. You’ve made an enemy of her, Nina.”

Nina nodded, her jaw set. “Let her come.”