Chapter 176

Moosa’s mind raced through every scenario in a split second, calculating the odds, adjusting for the position of each man, the trajectory of the remaining bullets, the cover they could use, the timing of their movement. He couldn’t allow himself to be defeated at this point. His body tensed, ready to respond, but his eyes never wavered from the path ahead. He visualized every shadow, every tree, every broken piece of stone that could provide even the slightest protection for his men, noting where someone could hide, where an ambush might be set, and which route could buy them the seconds they needed to escape. He had fought through worse odds before, had survived the impossible countless times, yet the knowledge that Roshanay’s safety hung precariously in the balance made this night sharper, colder, and infinitely more personal.

He gave Abdullah a brief nod, almost imperceptible, signaling a split-second plan that required precision, speed, and ruthless efficiency. His men, se