CHAPTER 5: THE CRACK IN THE ARMOR
Barnes lowered his rifle an inch, sweat beading along his forehead underneath his night-vision goggles. "You're Clara's boy."
"She treated your post-traumatic stress when the Navy wrote you off," Toby said, standing up without making a sound. "She didn't teach me how to fight men, Thomas. She taught me why men fight. You aren't evil. You're just desperate."
Behind Barnes, the second operative raised his carbine. "Drop him, Barnes! It's a psych-trick!"
Before the rogue could pull the trigger, Raymond dropped from the mezzanine above, disarming the second man in a smooth, sweeping takedown. Barnes stood frozen in the crossfire of his own morality.
"Marcus Crane is using you," Raymond warned, keeping his weapon trained on the fallen operative. "Once you secure Toby, Crane won't leave witnesses. He never does."
Barnes stared at Toby, whose eyes reflected nothing but unyielding empathy. The mercenary lowered his weapon entirely and pulled off his balaclava, revealing a weathered face marked by years of regret.
"Crane has the perimeter surrounded," Barnes rasped. "He brought armored transport. You won't make it to the state line."
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"We aren't running," Toby replied. "We're going to the beacon."
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