Alex's glare was pure venom, but the pain in his knee kept him from lunging. "You think this is over?" He spat. "You have no idea how many men are out here."
"I know exactly how many," Henry said coldly, stepping between Alex and Emma, "and you won't be leading them anywhere tonight."
Emma pressed herself against Henry's back, shaking. Her arms wrapped around him instinctively, clinging to the one thing keeping her safe.
From deeper in the forest, shouts erupted from afar… Alex's men, drawn by the gunshot, were getting closer.
Henry's jaw tightened. "We need to move."
He grabbed Emma's hand and pulled her into the darkness. Branches snapped underfoot, the forest floor damp and uneven. Their breathing was harsh in the cold air.
The voices grew louder. Flashlight beams flickered between the trees, jerking wildly as the men searched.
Henry suddenly yanked Emma down behind a fallen log, pushing her head low.
"Not a sound," he breathed against her ear.
