Page 18 of Broken Oath

Rook grabbed his vest. “I’m not leaving another man.”

Ridge looked toward Tex.

Something broke behind his eyes.

“You’re not leaving me. I’m staying with him.”

Gunfire ripped through the rocks above them.

Ridge pulled a grenade from his vest.

Then another.

“There’s enough fuel and ammunition in that storage building to bring half this mountain down.”

Rook understood.

“No.”

“You need time. I can give it to you.”

“That’s an order, Ridge.”

“So is getting the surviving members of your team home.”

Ridge clasped Rook’s arm.

His grip was still strong.

Still steady.

“Make this mean something.”

Rook couldn’t answer.

Ridge gave him a final nod, then turned toward the enemy.

“Go!”

Sniper grabbed Rook’s shoulder.

Fathom was already moving toward the ravine.

Rook stumbled after them.

Behind him, Ridge opened fire.

An enemy fighter fell.

Then another.

Then three more.

The gunfire grew closer.

Ridge waited until the fighters reached the storage building.

Then the mountain erupted.