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Not a grizzly A voice

“…God damn” Over the white water’s drone, a man swore faintly “Motherfuck”

Ben had to wrap his ar onward Jason’s chest heaved, and Ben whispered in his ear

“Be sined he could hear the drum of Jason’s as well in a terrible, terrified unison They were pressed close, and Ben cal in his arms

Jason mumbled, “Okay Slowly”

“Slowly,” Ben agreed “Follow , but Jason was all raw emotion and the deep, instinctual desperation ier

They veered to the right to approach at a distance Ben slipped off his pack and crept through the trees Tension radiated off Jason in waves, but there was nothing Ben could say to calie was there That she wasn’t hurt

He couldn’t believe they’d actually found Brown Blood thundered in his ears as loud as the white water, and his heart was going to shatter his ribcage He forced an inhalation and exhalation

A dilapidated lean-to lay ahead, and Brown suddenly walked into view on one side of it Jason stared ide eyes, vibrating but not charging forward, looking to Ben instead

What am I supposed to do?

Jason and Maggie needed hie He could do this He could do this for them

He and Jason crept forward, and Ben’s breath lodged in his throat, cold sweat on his neck as he readied the rifle, Brown out of sight again No sign of Maggie, but one thing at a time

Another curse rang out, louder this ti, the rifle ja under his feet Brown rounded the lean-to with his handgun raised

“We just want the girl,” Ben gritted out Jason was in his peripheral vision, ready to explode

A smile broke over Brown’s scruffy face “Aw, Daddy to the rescue Too bad you’re too late”

The bottom of Ben’s stomach plummeted, and he tasted bile Please, no Please!