"No," it pained him to admit, but there was no way around it. Perhaps in certain situations he could feign more knowledge than he had, but this was not among them, and Bryce had a growing hunch that it was for the best if he claimed as little knowledge about what had happened as possible. Better to make himself the victim than the villain in Sarah's eyes.

The time for secrets and pretense far behind them now, Bryce accepted the weapon and began to familiarize himself with it at once. He checked the clip, counter rounds, and placed it back in; he clicked the safety on and off; he gripped the handle tightly, gauging length between his hold to the trigger.

"Who are they?" He asked Sarah, nodding from the man behind her to the woman (girl, really) she'd just gestured toward. She didn't look like much of a fighter, but Bryce had never been one to underestimate an enemy, especially not based on appearances.