POV: Cassian
I stood in the doorway of the burning cabin, my mind racing through scenarios at lightning speed. Six armed men. Three exits, all covered. Zara is pregnant and barely able to run. Catherine, useless in any kind of fight. Me with one gun and maybe twelve bullets left.
The math didn't work in our favor. Smoke billowed around us, thick and acrid. The flames had caught on the dry wood siding, spreading faster than I'd anticipated. We had maybe five minutes before the structure became unstable. Maybe less.
Jason stood in the clearing beyond the porch, illuminated by firelight like some demon from hell. His men flanked him on both sides, assault rifles trained on the cabin door.
On me.
"Cassian!" Jason shouted, his voice cracking with manic energy. "How does it feel? Being trapped? Powerless? That's how you've made me feel for months!"
