“That is enough to earn your freedom.”

I looked at his outstretched hand, then at the monitors showing the armed men.

“I tried running,” I said.

“I spent two years hiding behind a counter, smelling like burnt grease and stale coffee.”

“Every time a car door slammed in the parking lot, my heart stopped.”

“I am not going to run anymore.”

“If I leave now, Vance will eventually find me.”

“He has eyes in every truck stop from here to the border.”

Outside, a loud explosion shook the floorboards.

Dust sifted down from the rafters, coating Vesper’s black coat in gray powder.

The horse snorted, tossing his head.

“They are using a thermal breach on the eastern gate,” I said, pointing at the monitor.

Dante watched me, his face unreadable.

“How do you know that?” he asked.

“I used to train the horses Kroll used for his northern runs,” I said.

“I know how his men move. I know how they think.”

“They always use a three-man breach team on the weakest entry point while Vance waits in the second vehicle.”