Free Edge of Courage (Edge Security Series Book 5) by Trish Loye Page B

without taking too long or making too much noise.
    Shit. Shit. Shit.
    There was nowhere to hide. She glanced back at the alley mouth. The men’s voices echoed down it. They were almost at her spot. She swallowed as her heart raced. There were no windows or doors on either building.
    There was nothing for it but to try to climb and hope they missed their shots when they fired at her.
    A small chunk of the stone left a gap only a few feet from the ground. She wedged the toe of her left sneaker into it and stretched to shove two fingers into a crack between bricks. Her right foot went to a minuscule edge.
    “Omar, check that alley,” the harsh voice ordered.
    No. No. She needed more time. Her panting sounded too loud in her ears.
    She glanced back when she was only halfway up, a black silhouette against the sandy stone. There was a scuffle on the other side of the wall. A figure appeared at the top.
    “Give me your hand,” Dylan said, his face grim.
    Relief speared her almost painfully. She reached up as he reached down. She used her feet to help him haul her to the top. Without looking back, they pushed off and leapt the ten feet to the ground.
    A shout and shots rang out from the other side. Trash filled the narrow alley they’d landed in. Sarah jumped over a broken crate and dodged a knocked-over trash bin. She didn’t pause at the end of the alley, but grabbed Dylan’s shirtsleeve and pulled him to the right. This street was smaller and they dashed across it into another alley.
    She had a stitch in her side by the time they’d made it to the old district where the stone buildings hugged one another and leaned close over narrow alleys. She slowed and held up her hand. Dylan paused beside her; his hard gaze constantly scanning the area around them.
    “Problem?” he asked.
    She took a few deep breaths before she answered. “I’m out of shape,” she admitted. “It’s been awhile since I’ve run for my life. Or even run.”
    He grinned before he went back to watching the road behind them. “You did fine.” He checked his watch. “We can ease up a little. The RV is north of here, but not far. We should be able to make the exfil, since we lost the assholes back there.”
    Sarah shook her head. “I’m not leaving. You are.”
    Dylan swung his head to look at her. “You’re staying? What for? What if one of those men can identify you?”
    “I’m dressed in black and have my face covered. They won’t be able to identify me.” Besides, there was no way she would leave Jalila behind. “I’m staying,” she said firmly. “I have a mission.” She started to walk down the narrow street.
    In this older area of town, the streets weaved drunkenly and could barely handle one car. She checked down each alley as she walked. Most would be a tight squeeze for the tea cart. The stone walls reached two or three stories at most, broken only by the occasional door. No windows decorated these old buildings. If they ran into trouble, the maze could quickly turn into a trap.
    “You should come with me. What if you run into a patrol on your way back?” He followed her closely, his head moving as he watched the rooftops and behind them.
    “We don’t have time to argue. I can’t leave,” she said.
    His gaze snapped to her and he opened his mouth. She cut him off. Being in this warren made her skin itch. She wanted out. “We need to get to the rooftops. There’ll be less chance anyone can sneak up on us.”
    “Agreed.” He jogged down an alley, following it first left and then right. The alleyway became so narrow they could touch the buildings on either side. “This’ll do,” he said. He slung his rifle over his back and interlaced his fingers. “I’ll give you a boost.”
    She looked at the rooftop he’d nodded at. It was at least a dozen feet up, and the wall supporting it had no ledges or windows. “How will you get up?”
    “Don’t worry about me.”
    She wanted to demand he answer her, but they were