Page 268 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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But it’s enough.

Because that made her visible.

Connected.

Exposed.

My chest tightens.

I look back at Aspen.

Her eyes are on me now.

Searching.

Trusting.

Terrified.

And I make a decision right then.

Clear.

Final.

They don’t take her.

They don’t take him.

They don’t take anything from us.

Not without a fight.

I turn back to the agent.

“What’s the next move?” I ask.

His brow lifts slightly.

“You’re asking?”

“I’m not asking,” I say. “I’m deciding whether I like your answer.”

A beat.

Then—

“We relocate them,” he says.

No.

My expression doesn’t change.

But the answer is already there.

“No,” I say.

And just like that—

The line is drawn again.

Only this time?

It’s deeper.

Because now I know why they’re here.

And I know exactly what they want.

And I’m not giving it to them.

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