Chapter 29: Aftermath of Failure

Meanwhile, Conor and Parker moved swiftly through the darkened streets, their senses heightened by the danger surrounding them. They communicated in terse, whispered commands as they made their way toward the extraction point, where Reilynn and the remaining Duke’s men were struggling to pull back from the ambush.

When they arrived, the scene was even worse than they had anticipated. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and blood, and the ground was littered with debris from the firefight. Three of the Duke’s men lay motionless, their blood staining the cracked pavement. The rest of the team was pinned down, barely holding their position against the onslaught of heavily armed guards.

Parker motioned for Conor to cover him as he moved toward Reilynn, who was crouched behind a makeshift barricade. “We need to get out of here, now!” Parker hissed.

Reilynn nodded, her face grim. “We’ve got wounded, and they’re closing in fast. We can’t hold them off much longer.”

Conor grabbed a