The air grew thicker and colder as we descended into the ravine.

I heard the distant rumble of heavy engines.

“They’re close,” Dante said.

“The ravine road is just ahead,” I said. “It drops down into a gully where the trucks have to slow to a crawl.”

We reached the edge of the slope.

Below us, through the thick pine branches, I saw the dim glow of headlights.

Three heavy transport trucks were crawling along the dirt track.

“Those are Kroll’s supply trucks,” Gregory muttered, drawing his weapon.

“Carrying the uncut chemicals and the cash.”

“If we take out the lead truck, the rest are trapped,” Dante said.

He looked at me. “Can we get down there?”

“There’s a deer trail,” I said. “It’s steep and muddy, but Vesper can handle it.”

I squeezed my heels into Vesper’s sides.

The big black horse didn’t hesitate.

She slid down the muddy bank, her hooves throwing up wet dirt.

Dante and the others followed, their horses huffing in the cold air.

We reached the bottom of the ravine just as the first truck rounded the bend.