Chapter 13 - The Diversion
Left alone on the ridge, Thomas pulled himself up against the trunk of a massive fallen cedar. His legs were numb, dead weight dragging behind him, but his mind had never been sharper. He gathered three dry pine branches, wrapped them in an emergency flare from his vest pocket, and struck the igniter.
A brilliant crimson blaze illuminated the ridge, cutting through the forest darkness. ""Over here!"" Thomas bellowed, his command voice ringing with absolute authority across the valley.
The three mercenaries turned instantly, opening fire on the ridge. Bullets chewed through the bark above his head, wood splinters showering his shoulders. Thomas rolled behind the granite ledge, retrieving a fragmentation grenade he had taken from Elena's tactical vest. He pulled the pin, cooked it for two seconds, and hurled it down the slope toward their approaching boots.
The blast shattered the night, knocking two of the attackers off their feet and scattering their search lights into the mud. Down in the valley, the engine of the forest service truck roared to life, headlights cutting through the trees as Elena barreled onto the access road.
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Thomas smiled coldly in the crimson glow of the burning flare. Leo was safe.
A heavy boot stepped onto his chest, pinning him against the rock. A contractor stood over him, rifle aimed directly between Thomas's eyes. ""Sterling wants you alive for questioning, Captain. But he didn't say anything about your arms.""
