Chapter 31 · Take the Damn Airfield

Cole was halfway to the wire fence before I caught him.

He had his rifle up, boots pounding dirt, and I knew exactly where he was headed. The old airfield tower—two klicks north, visible from the ridge if you knew where to look. Hammer's people were there. Maybe his sister was too.

I grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "Cole. Stop."

"She's there." His voice cracked. "The radio traffic—Leah said they mentioned a girl. That's her. That's Mina."

"You don't know that."

"I know." His eyes were wild, red-rimmed. He hadn't slept in two days. "I'm done waiting, Evie. I'm going."

I looked at him. Eighteen years old. Lost his whole village. Followed me because he thought I could fix things. Now he was about to throw himself at Hammer's position like it was some kind of suicide run, and I was supposed to what—let him?

"You go in there alone, you die," I said. "Then your sister dies too. You get that?"

He jerked his arm free. "So come with me."

"We've got sixty people here, Cole. Half of them can't shoot straight. We're holding this outpost because Hammer thinks we're dug in and dangerous.