ANGELO: “Tick-tock.”

Lucien ripped the detonator out of the boy’s pocket and tossed it toward the treeline. It landed with a thud still counting down. 14. 13.

RAFAEL: “That won’t stop it.”

SOLENE: “Then we stop him.”

Angelo moved like something no longer bound by bone too fast, too clean. Lucien met him halfway, steel against steel, their clash shaking the broken concrete. Solene used the opening to grab the boy, shoving him behind cover.

BOY: “Don’t ...