Chapter 24: Just a Deal 

"Don't move," Alex whispered, his voice low and sharp, a dagger of warning. 

I froze, every muscle in my body tightening like a coiled spring. Reid clung to my leg, his tiny fingers digging into my jeans. Precious was crouched behind the couch, her breathing uneven. The cabin was cloaked in a suffocating silence, save for the faint rustle of leaves outside. 

"They're circling," Alex murmured, peering through the crack in the boarded-up window. His gun was steady in his hands, his knuckles white from the grip. 

"How many?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. 

"Four," he said grimly. "Maybe five. They're waiting...