Having left her past life behind, Billie has not anticipated a reunion with her former unit in a South American heist four years after they drifted apart. The idea of reconnecting was far from her thoughts, however, as events take an unforeseen turn...
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FOR A MOMENT, Billie's mind seemed to disconnect, everything around her blurring into an incomprehensible haze. It wasn't until the sharp, deafening crack of Santiago's gunfire erupted in front of her that she was jolted back to reality.
Santiago stood firmly in front of Billie, blocking her line of sight as he fired at the source of the crash. The sharp report of his weapon echoed around them. Behind her, Will had his gun drawn, his posture tense, though he wasn't firing.
Gritting her teeth, Billie pushed herself out of her ducking position, raising her weapon as she moved to Santiago's side. Her heart pounded as her gaze shifted to the chaos ahead. Santiago's shots weren't aimed to kill—he was targeting the tyres. The vehicle that had collided with them, a beat-up van, sagged on one side as its rubber shredded under the assault.
Through the haze of noise, Billie spotted movement inside the van—a group of teenagers, their panicked screams. Huddled together, they cowered, their hands covering their heads as Santiago's rounds rattled them.
Seeing no need to engage, Billie lowered her weapon, the adrenaline ebbing away as she slumped back down into the trunk. Seeing the teenagers cowed into submission, Santiago stopped firing, lowering his weapon and crouching back down into the trunk beside Billie.
"Can we go?" he asked Frank.
Frank seized the moment, revving the van's engine one final time before lurching it forward and speeding away.
"Hold on, Billie," Santiago said. He reached out, gripping her arm to steady her as the sudden movement jolted her against the side of the vehicle.
"What the hell is this?" Will asked loudly as another vehicle roared past them, speeding toward the van Santiago had been firing at.
The stolen radio crackled to life, urgent voices chattering in rapid Spanish.
"What are they saying?" Billie asked, her gaze darting between Santiago and Frank.
"More are coming," Frank said, his eyes locked on the bumpy road ahead. His knuckles whitened as his grip tightened on the wheel.
"There are two vehicles!" Santiago shouted from beside Billie.
As she turned, the blinding light from the vehicle chasing them flooded her vision, forcing her to shield her eyes. Squinting, she could make out another van, filled with teenagers, barreling toward them.
"All right, it should open up onto the beach any minute!" Will called from the front, his eyes glued to the map in his lap.
"Pope, Bee, shoot!" Frank barked, his voice commanding, his focus fixed on navigating the treacherous road ahead.
