Page 106 of Unbroken

She nods.

No time for words.

We move.

Twomore men behind the fence. I signal with two fingers, then tilt left. She covers right. We flank like we’ve done this a hundred times.

But we haven’t.

Not really.Thiswas supposed to be our practice session, our trial run.

Still—our rhythm is perfect.

She drops one with a clean shoulder shot.

I finish him before he can scream.

Smoke and blood coat the air.

Backup swarms in between us—Matvei and Rodion, Rafail and his lieutenant.

We drag Luka behind the back entrance. Thank fuck the little guy didn’t see what happened, didn’t know this wasreal. I press his head into my chest and feel his tiny hands grip my shirt.

“You did good!” he says with a grin. My heart pounds so fast I’m dizzy. I don’t trust myself to speak.

Ruthie slams the bolt shut behind us and leans back against the door.

She’s breathing hard and sweat runs down her temple.

I hold Luka to me, feeling his warmth seep through my fingers, reassurance that he’s okay.

“You did good, too, buddy,” I finally manage to say, my voice hoarse.

“Yeah, so that wasn’t supposed to go that way,” she mutters.

I meet her eyes. “You did great.”

She swallows. “You protected me.”

I step close.

Her breath hitches.

“Of course I did.”

Luka smiles up. “You said I did good, too, Papa?”

I fall to one knee and hold him to me. “Sogood, buddy. I’m so proud.” My voice shakes. “You’re a real hero.”

The tenderness cracks something in me.

Sirens now, distant, and gunshots have stopped. Backup closing in and doing their job. We need to move… We need to get out of here.

I kiss her.

It’s not violent this time but soft, reverent.

Luka hugs our legs, and we pull back. She cradles him, and I watch her wrap around him like she’s always been his shield.

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