“我哥哥人现在不知道在哪里。”

让手下将巡逻车开走之后，山上结衣留了下来，看着中年男人说道。

“那就联系他。”

“你有什么话直接跟我说也是一样的！”

中年男人摇摇头：“必须要山...

中年男人shakeshishead,“Mustgotothemountain.Ihaveafeelingthat‘swhereheis.“

Helooksaroundcautiously,makingsurenooneislisteningin.“Weneedtomovequickly,thelongerwewait,themorelikelyhe‘llbecaughtbythosewhoarehuntinghim.“

Themanbesidehimfrowns,clearlyunhappywiththesituation.“ButwhataboutSofia?Wecan‘tjustleaveherbehind.“

Themiddle-agedman‘sexpressionturnsstern.“Sofiaisaliability.She‘sputtingusallatriskwithherconstantmeddling.Weneedtogetridofherbeforeshecausesanymoretrouble.“

Ifeelasurgeofangerathiswords,butIknowhe‘snotwrong.Sofiahasbeenathorninoursidefortoolong,andit‘stimesomeonetookcareofher.

Themanbesidehimseemstosensemyemotionsandplacesahandonmyshoulder.“Hey,we‘reonthesameteamhere.Weneedtoworktogetherifwewanttosurvivethis.“

Inodslightly,tryingtocalmdown.Wecan‘taffordtoletouremotionsgetthebetterofus.Notnow,notwhenourlivesareatstake.

Themiddle-agedmannods,seemingtounderstandmythoughtprocess.“Good.Let‘sfocusongettingSofiaoutofhereandthenwecanworryaboutfindingyourbrother.“

Inodagain,feelingasenseofdeterminationwashoverme.We‘llgetSofia,andwe‘llfindmybrother.That‘sallthatmattersrightnow.

Themanbesidemelooksatthemapspreadoutonanearbytable,studyingitintently.“Alright,IthinkI‘vefiguredoutourbestcourseofaction.WeneedtotakethepatrolcarupthemountainandseeifwecanpickupSofia‘strail.“

Ifrown,feelingasenseofunease.“Butwhataboutthepatrolcars?They‘llbepatrollingthatroutetoo.“

Themansmilesgrimly.“That‘swhywe‘regoingtouseourskillstodisablethem.Weneedtocreateawindowofopportunityforustomovethroughwithoutbeingdetected.“

Ifeelasurgeofadrenalineathiswords,knowingthatthisisexactlywhatI‘vebeentrainingfor.We‘lltakeoutthepatrolcarsandmakeourwayupthemountain,readytofacewhateverdangerslieahead.

Themiddle-agedmannods,seemingtosensemyexcitement.“Alright,let‘sgetmoving.Wedon‘thavemuchtime.“

Wequicklygatherourgearandmakeourwaytothepatrolcar,readytobeginourmission.Aswedriveupthemountain,Ifeelasenseofanticipationbuildinginsideme.efindwhenwereachthetop?WillSofiabewaitingforus,orwillshehavealreadyslippedaway?

Onlytimewilltell,butonethingiscertain:we‘renotgoingtoletanythingstandinourway.

WearriveatthefirstpatrolcarandItakecareofitwithease,disablingitsenginesandlights.Themanbesidemenodsinapproval,seeminglyimpressedwithmyskills.

“Goodjob,“hesays.“Nowlet‘smoveontothenextone.“

Aswecontinueupthemountain,Ifeelasenseofcalmwashoverme.We‘reincontrolhere,andnothingcanstopus.

Wereachthetopofthemountainjustasthesunissetting,castingagoldenglowoverthelandscape.Themanbesidemelooksaroundcautiously,hiseyesscanningthehorizonforanysignofdanger.

Ifollowhisgaze,myheartpoundinginmychest.WhatdoIsee?IsSofiawaitingforus,orhasshealreadyescaped?

Andthen,justaswe‘reabouttogiveuphope,Iseeher.She‘sstandingattheedgeofacliff,staringoutintothedistancewithalookofdeterminationonherface.

MyheartskipsabeatasIrealizethatthismustbeSofia.Themanbesidemenods,seeminglysensingmyexcitement.

“It‘sher,“hesays.“Let‘sgogether.“

Inod,feelingasenseofreliefwashoverme.We‘vefoundSofia,andnowit‘stimetobringherin.

Butasweapproachher,Irealizethatsomethingisoff.Shedoesn‘tseemquiteright,andthelookonherfacesendsshiversdownmyspine.

“Hey,Sofia,“Isay,tryingtokeepmyvoicesteady.“Whatareyoudoinghere?“

Sheturnstome,acoldglintinhereye.“I‘vebeenwaitingforyou,“shesays,hervoicedrippingwithmenace.