Chapter 10 - An Unlikely Ally
"Don't shoot," the stranger grunted, leaning heavily against a tree. Blood seeped through his dark jacket.
Julian didn't lower the gun. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't put a bullet in your head right now. You're Silas. You work for Victoria."
Silas coughed, a wet, rattling sound. "I worked for Victoria. Until she asked me to kill a pregnant woman. I draw the line at kids, Julian. I pushed her out of the way today. And for my trouble, Marcus shot me an hour ago when I tried to warn you."
Elise peeked out from behind Julian. "You saved my life."
Silas offered a grim, pained smile. "I tried. But they tracked you to the bunker. Vance took out the assault team, but Marcus and Victoria have a secondary squad sweeping these woods right now with thermal scopes. If you stay here, you're dead."
"Vance is alive?" Julian asked, desperate for good news.
"He's hit, but he got away. We need to move to my car. It's parked on the old logging road two miles north," Silas said, pushing himself off the tree.
"He's bleeding out, Julian. He can't make it two miles," Elise whispered.
"I don't have a choice," Silas growled. "Victoria is unhinged. She thinks if Elise dies, you'll come crawling back to her. She's completely lost her mind."
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Julian wrapped his arm around Silas, supporting the injured man's weight. He looked back at his pregnant fiancé. "Two miles, Elise. Can you do this?"
She gritted her teeth, finding a reserve of strength she didn't know she possessed. "Let's go."
