The sound of metal screaming against metal filled the freezing air. Sparks flew in every direction as the heavy commercial snowplow slammed its massive steel blade straight into the side of the Vane armored vehicle. The impact was so violent that it lifted the heavy black rover onto two wheels, tilting the machine dangerously close to the rocky edge of the cliff.

Clara screamed, gripping the armrests of her seat as the sheer drop of the mountain canyon yawned open right outside her window. Thousand-foot depths of dark rock and jagged pine trees waited below, ready to swallow them whole if the vehicle tipped over.

Jax slammed his hand against...