There was a screech of tires and the other car arrived. The rest of the team jumped out and started to return fire. But we were still pinned down in the middle of it all and Becker and his men were creeping closer.

That’s when I saw the steps leading down, just twenty feet away. The park had its own metro entrance. I struggled to my feet, nodded towards it and Erin and I ran.

I staggered down the stairs, wincing in pain, my legs weakening: at least gravity was on my side, now.

We could see a train waiting to leave but it was right down at the other end of the platform. I stumbled on but I was running out of steam and I could hear footsteps behind us.

Erin stayed by my side, her arm hooked in mine, towing me along. Sweat was running into my eyes and my lungs felt like they were going to explode. My foot throbbed and the bomb was just too heavy.

I could hear someone behind us. I assumed it was Becker but I couldn’t spare the energy to look. The only reason he hadn’t shot us yet was that there were a few passengers, further along the platform. But he was going to catch us, any second.

I pushed. Harder than I’d ever pushed in my life, lifting each leg through what felt like wet concrete and then slamming it down even though it made my muscles scream. But six feet from the train, my legs gave out and I fell to my knees. The bomb hit the floor, cracking some of the tiles.

“Get up!” Erin yelled. She grabbed my hand and tried to pull me up but I shook my head. There was no time.

I pushed the bomb towards her. “Take it,” I rasped. “You gotta leave me and get it on the train.” It was only six feet to the doors and if she slid it across the tiles, she wouldn’t have to pick it up.

Erin looked at the bomb. Looked at me.

Then she grabbed my arms and hauled me onto the train, leaving the bomb on the platform. The sliding doors hissed closed.

Becker ran up to the doors and slammed his fist against the glass. The handful of other passengers jumped, shocked. And then the train pulled away.

I lay there sprawled on my back, too exhausted to get up, staring at Becker as he shrank into the distance. “Oh Christ,” I said weakly. My chest was on fire and I could barely get the words out. “Oh Christ, Erin, what did you do?” She was crouched next to me and I twisted to look at her. “He has the bomb!” I searched her face. “Why did you do that?”

There were tears in her eyes. “Because I love you!”