Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Two

Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Two
Evelyn's POV
The security patrol's first shot shattered our back window. Beck slammed the accelerator, sending the van fishtailing down the road.
"Contact rear!" he shouted. "Two vehicles pursuing!"
Victoria was thrown against me as Beck took a sharp turn. "I need to finish the scan! I almost have their exact positions!"
"Do it fast!" I returned fire through the broken window. One of my shots hit a tire. The first pursuit vehicle spun out, crashing into a guardrail.
The second vehicle was more aggressive. It rammed us from behind, sending the van skidding.
Beck fought for control. "We're not going to outrun them! These engines are modified!"
"Then we stop running." I checked my weapon. Full magazine. "Pull over. We end this."
"Evelyn—"
"Do it!"
Beck slammed the brakes. Our van skidded to a stop. The pursuit vehicle couldn't react in time. It crashed into our rear bumper with a screech of metal.
I was out before they could recover. Three operatives stumbled from their vehicle, dazed from the impact.
I shot the first one in the shoulder. He went down screaming. The second one got his weapon up. I dove behind our van as he fired.
Beck was beside me a second later, returning fire. The operative retreated behind his vehicle.
"Third one's flanking!" Victoria called from inside the van.
I spun, saw him circling wide. Fired twice. Missed both times. He was fast.
He got a shot off. I felt the bullet pass inches from my head.
Then Grey's voice crackled over the comms. "Evelyn, drop!"
I hit the ground. A sniper round whistled overhead and took the operative in the chest. He collapsed.
"Grey?" I asked, confused.
"Followed you. Didn't trust Dante not to lose his mind if something went wrong. Good instinct, apparently."
"Where are you?"
"Hilltop. Eight hundred yards. I've got overwatch. Now get out of there before more Restoration shows up."
The remaining operative behind the vehicle was calling for backup on his radio. Beck shot the radio out of his hand. Then shot him in the leg for good measure.
"Move!" Beck hauled me up. "Van's still mobile!"
We piled back in. Beck drove like hell was chasing us. Maybe it was.
Victoria was pale but triumphant. "I got everything. Exact positions. Security layouts. Guard rotations. We can hit them tonight."
"You're not hitting anything," I said. "You're barely conscious."
"I'll recover. I always do." But her hands were shaking.
My phone rang. Dante.
"We're okay," I said before he could ask. "Grey saved us."
"Grey saved—" He processed this. "He followed you?"
"Apparently. We're coming back. Victoria got the intel we need."
"Thank god." Relief was thick in his voice. "When you get here, we're having a serious discussion about you doing dangerous reconnaissance missions."
"Looking forward to it." I wasn't, but he needed to believe I was safe now.
Back at the warehouse, Dante pulled me aside the moment I walked in.
"You could have died."
"But I didn't."
"This time." His hands framed my face. "Evelyn, I can't—" His voice cracked. "I can't lose you. Not after everything."
"You won't. I promise." I kissed him softly. "But I can't sit back while others risk their lives. That's not who I am."
"I know. Doesn't mean I have to like it."
"You don't. You just have to trust me."
He held me close for a long moment. I felt his heart racing against my chest.
Victoria spread the intel across the table. "Third floor, northeast corner. Fifteen hostages in one large room. Ten guards on rotation. Twenty more scattered throughout the facility."
"What about their research?" Marcus asked. "The data they stole from Sarah?"
"Different building. Connected by underground tunnel." Victoria pointed to the map. "If we want to destroy their research and rescue the hostages, we'll need to split our forces."
"No splitting," Dante said firmly. "Hostages first. Always. We destroy the research after they're safe."
"Agreed." Grey was cleaning his sniper rifle. "I'll take position here. Overwatch. When you breach, I'll handle external security."
"Beck, you lead the breach team. Six of our best." Dante pointed to the facility layout. "Fast and quiet. In and out before they can mobilize."
"And me?" Sarah asked.
"You stay here with the other timeline manipulators. If this goes wrong, you run. Get far away and don't look back."
"But—"
"No arguments. Victoria needs protection while she recovers. You're it."
Sarah looked like she wanted to protest. Instead she nodded. "Don't die."
"Not planning on it."
We had four hours until the assault. Four hours to prepare, to check weapons, to make peace with the possibility this was a one-way trip.
I found Dante on the roof again. Our spot.
"Penny for your thoughts," I said.
"Thinking about our kids. About what happens if we don't come back."
"Sana will take care of them."
"It's not the same as having parents."
"No. But it's better than having parents who stood by while innocent people suffered." I sat beside him. "We have to do this. You know that."
"Knowing it doesn't make it easier."
We sat in silence, watching the stars. Soon we'd be fighting again. Risking everything again.
But we were doing it together. And that made all the difference.