Her next target was easily twenty yards away, blasting away toward Caleb’s position and totally absorbed in the effort. Clueless to the fact that his entire body was exposed on this side of the tree he was using for cover. Victoria took her time with this one, dropping to one knee, and pressing the stock deep into the soft spot of her shoulder. She settled her red dot at the base of the shooter’s skull and pressed the trigger straight back. Her AR15 barked, her target fell.

Still, all the return fire was directed toward their front. They remained clueless.

Far away, through the underbrush, she caught a glimpse of Luke as he fired a shot and ducked back behind a tree, just as incoming rounds shredded its bark.

This time, Victoria didn’t need to see anything. Somebody was shooting at her baby boy. She advanced on the muzzle flash, firing the whole way. After only three shots, her bolt locked back. She never slowed as she fingered the release to drop the empty mag from its well, and she pulled her fresh one from her pocket and slid it home. She thumbed the bolt release to chamber a round and was shooting again in less than three seconds.

Five rounds later, a fifty-something guy with a bad beard and an AR15 slumped to the mulchy floor, his hands clutching his left side. Victoria shot him point-blank and ended it.

The forest had fallen silent.

Victoria stooped to the man she’d just killed and slipped his magazine free of the well and slipped it into her back pocket. She had no idea how many rounds were left, but she’d take all that she could get.

“Luke!” she shouted. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. I got one!”

“Caleb?”

“Still here. Moving forward.”

“Luke, have you seen Grubbs? The man from the road the other day?”

“No. I only saw one. It wasn’t him.”

“Okay, boys, listen!” Victoria shouted. “You stay where you are. Keep watching in case they’re setting a trap.”

“What are you going to do?” Caleb shouted.

“The same thing. They can’t stay still forever.” Neither can we.

Victoria had zero intention of staying put forever. This was a hunt now. Grubbs had done enough damage. He had to be taken out.

She figured that if he had a shot, he’d have taken it by now, especially since she’d exposed her position by shouting. With everybody hunkered down, the playing field was leveled. The first one to move would be the first to stack their odds in the wrong direction.

Victoria heard commotion through the forest, back in the direction of where she’d left Caleb.

“Mom!” he yelled.

“Mrs. Emerson! Vicky! It’s Joe! I’ve brought others!”

The sound of McCrea’s voice made her heart skip, brought tears to her eyes. “Grubbs is still out here!” she yelled.