The air seemed colder as the group pressed deeper into the forest, the tension palpable. Every step felt heavier, every sound sharper. Lena stayed close to Claire, her eyes darting nervously. The earlier firefight had shaken her, but something else hung in the air—a gnawing unease that Claire couldn’t shake.
“We’re close,” Alex said, his voice low as he pointed to a steep incline ahead. “Safe house is just beyond that ridge.”
Ethan scanned the area, his sharp gaze cutting through the dense foliage. “What’s the plan if they catch up?”
“They won’t,” Alex said firmly. “We’ve got too much ground on them now.”
Claire wasn’t convinced. Lucas wasn’t one to give up easily, and his men were relentless. She glanced at Lena, who stumbled slightly over a root. “We’re almost there,” Claire said sof
