Page 140 of Broken Oath

Not since before six brothers were buried beneath six flags.

Beside him, Sniper slowly uncrossed his arms.

Even Fathom looked surprised.

The woman stared into the camera.

Into Rook.

Across forty-eight hours.

Across grief.

Across guilt.

“You’re getting closer than they realize.”

Nobody moved.

The hum of the computers sounded deafening.

“They believe they buried the truth on that mountain.”

Gunfire flashed through Rook’s mind.

Blood.

Hammer falling.

Ridge walking toward the explosion.

Viking’s rifle going silent.

“They’re wrong,” she said.

Her gaze shifted for one brief second.

As though she could still see the mountain too.

When she spoke again, her voice softened.

Only slightly.

But enough.

“I tried to stop it.”

The words landed like a blow.

No performance.

No excuses.

Only regret.

Raw.

Ugly.