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“He said the guy wouldn’t tell the cops who he was,” Ielse I looked up at Me me with confusion, but their eyes weren’t on me

I followed their gazes to see Caleb standing on the porch of the cabin He was leaning against one of the half-rotted posts, his arms wrapped around his slih my belly when he took a step back from me as I reached for him

“Go back inside,” I said “It’s too cold out here”

Caleb’s eyes shifted to Mav “Eli?” he asked

“Hanging in there,” Mav said “He’s worried about you”

Caleb was quiet for a ation?”

“No,” Memphis said before I could tell Caleb it didn’t e of the incident The one security cas’ house wasn’t working”

Caleb looked at ht?”

Irritation went through me as he threords back inabout his had been

Caleb heldseconds, but unlike in the past, I couldn’t tell any of what he was thinking He finally tore his eyes fro But I’aze slide back towith anyone,” he said, his voice low

I was about to protest when a flash of red on Caleb’s shirt caughthi his fall assounds over asped for air beneath unfire erupted all around us I rolled with Caleb so ere so

“Caleb, are you hit?” I asked as I began running my hands over his body “Are you hit?” I practically shouted in his face

He coughed and gasped, then began shaking his head Since I knew I’d probably knocked the wind out of him, I didn’t wait for hirabbed un from where it was tucked in my waistband and turned to survey the scene

Memphis and Mav had taken cover behind their car They were shooting in opposite directions, so I quickly scanned our surroundings I could still hear the distinctive popping sounds, a sure sign our attackers were using suppressors on their guns There was no way to tell how uessed there were at least five based on the volu fired I forced myself to focus on the woods around us and finally zeroed in on what I was looking for I raised er The man who’d been about to take a shot at Meround

“Get inside!” I yelled at Caleb, but just as he started to crawl for the front door, I heard glass breaking and I grabbed his leg to drag him back to me I covered his body with mine and closed my eyes at the same time that I covered my head as best as I could A second later, there was a deafening bang followed by a bright flash of light

A flash grenade

I fought through the haze of pain and confusion as

“Jace, go!” I heard Memphis yell “Get him out of here!”

I grabbed Caleb by the shirt and hauled hirenade had done its job and completely disoriented hiet hiht he’d lost, he wasn’t a sered beneath his bulk as I rushed down the stairs I s as Mav and Memphis covered me I was able to take out another shooter just as I reached ht before so that it was facing the path leading to the road, rather than the cabin itself And luckily, Me me in

I shoved Caleb into the car, pushing him over the driver’s seat “Move, Caleb!” I ordered He’d recovered enough frorenade that he was able to follow my order “Get down!” I said, when he went to sit on the seat He squeezed himself onto the floor as best he could and covered his head Just as he did, the passenger sideout I winced as flying glass hit ed to fall into the driver’s seat I sent a silent thank-you heavenward that I’d left the car keys in et the car started and flen the driveway toward the road