Page 253 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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“Of course we’re not,” he says. “Why the hell would we tell you anything?”

At least he’s honest about that.

That almost makes it worse.

Behind me, I feel Aspen shift closer.

Her voice lowers.

“Havoc…”

I glance back slightly.

Her eyes meet mine.

There’s fear there.

But also trust.

And something else.

Something deeper.

“We can’t do this alone,” she says quietly.

That hits.

Because she’s not wrong.

Because whatever this is—

It’s bigger than us.

But that doesn’t mean I hand her over.

Doesn’t mean I trust them.

Doesn’t mean I step aside.

I look back at the agent.

“Then you work with us,” I say.

His brow lifts slightly.

“That’s not how this works.”

“It is now.”

Silence.

Again.

Always silence before something breaks.

The agent studies me.

Long.

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