Page 49 of Dark Rebel's Fortune

Max swore under his breath. If the Doomers were jamming comms and mounting simultaneous resistance at all extraction points, it meant they had far more resources in Tehran than anyone had anticipated. The compound they'd destroyed the previous night had clearly been just one cell of many. Max also suspected a breach in their organization.

Someone was feeding the Doomers information.

"Anton, we need to change tactics," Max called. "They're trying to contain us until reinforcements arrive. We need to break out now."

The Kra-ell nodded, his eyes gleaming with battle-light. "Frontal assault or break through thewalls to create an alternative exit? I might be able to break through with a kick."

A frontal assault against six or more Doomers was not an option, and Anton, with all his superior strength, couldn't kick down block walls.

But an alternative exit was a good idea, and Max had just the thing.

"Good thinking about the alternative exit, but not by kicking the wall in. I'm going to make us a new door. Cover me." He pulled out a C4 packet, a remote detonator, and a timer.

As Anton laid down suppressive fire toward the front of the house, Max moved to the wall opposite the bathroom. If he remembered correctly, the exterior wall here backed onto a narrow alley between houses, which was perfect for their escape.

Max affixed the C4 to the wall, set the timer for thirty seconds, then moved back to the bathroom door.

"Rana," he called. "We're going to blow out an exit. I need you to stay down, back against the tub, head covered. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Twenty seconds," Max told Anton. "On my mark, we move Rana through the breach."

Anton nodded, adjusting his position to better cover the approaching corridor.

The seconds ticked down, and Max readied himself, adrenaline sharpening his senses to preternatural levels. He could hear the Doomerscommunicating in low voices, coordinating their own assault.

They were running out of time.

"Five seconds," he murmured. "Four, three, two, one?—"

The explosive detonated with a sharp concussive blast, sending dust and debris flying as it cut an opening through the exterior wall.

"Move!" Max shouted, yanking open the bathroom door.

Rana emerged with remarkable composure, and Max guided her toward the newly created exit while Anton provided covering fire.

"Through here." Max helped Rana through the jagged opening. "Stay low and run straight to the gray van at the end of the alley."

Rana paused just briefly at the breach, looking back at her home with an expression that spoke volumes about what she was leaving behind. Then she nodded once and ran.

"Anton, go with her," Max ordered. "I'll cover your retreat."

The Kra-ell warrior shook his head. "I'm not leaving you to face six Doomers alone."

Max wanted to argue, but there wasn't time. The sound of boots pounding up the corridor told him the Doomers had abandoned caution in favor of overwhelming force.

"Fine. On three. One, two?—"

He didn't make it to three before the first Doomerrounded the corner, gun raised. Max fired immediately, catching the immortal in the shoulder and spinning him back. Not a kill shot, but enough to slow him down.

Anton moved with blinding speed, closing the distance to the stunned Doomer and driving his blade through the immortal's eye socket—one of the few ways to ensure an immortal kill.

"Go!" Max shouted, laying down suppressive fire as Anton pivoted and dove through the breach.

Max followed immediately after, bullets peppering the wall where he'd stood just seconds before. Outside, the narrow alley provided minimal cover—just a few trash bins and the uneven shadows of midday.

Rana was already halfway to the van, with Anton rushing her forward with one hand while the other held his weapon ready. Max sprinted after them, turning occasionally to fire at the Doomers now emerging from the breach.

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