Page 164 of Silent Target

Forward means following the Inner Guard.

Back means being sealed inside the vault.

Rook looks at the team.

“Forward.”

We climb.

Shark supports Falcon as they take the stairs. Fathom secures the drives. Mac covers Cobra while he disconnects from the console.

Evie stays beside me.

The third-level door narrows as we approach.

Six feet.

Four.

Two.

Cobra dives through first.

Fathom and Mac follow.

Rook pushes Falcon across while Shark holds the door.

Evie reaches the threshold.

An armored hand catches her vest from the other side.

She disappears into the darkness.

“Evie!”

I lunge through the closing gap.

The steel door slams shut behind me.

Separating us from the rest of Shadow Division.

The lights come on.

Victor Kane stands at the end of the corridor with one arm locked around Evie’s throat and a pistol pressed beneath her jaw.

He looks at me.

“Put down the rifle, Caleb.”

Evie’s eyes meet mine.

Don’t.

She doesn’t say it.

She doesn’t need to.

I can read it on her face.