Page 391 of Broken Oath

“The stars.”

I followed his gaze.

Clouds were breaking beyond the mountains.

For the first time in five years, he was standing beneath an open sky.

Jackson stopped beside him.

A rough laugh escaped him.

“I forgot there were that many.”

Wade looked upward.

His expression shattered something inside me.

Five years without stars.

Without snow touching his face.

Without knowing whether it was day or night.

Dad stepped beside him.

“We’ll find somewhere better to look at them.”

Wade swallowed.

“You still have the cabin?”

“I never sold it.”

“You said you hated that place.”

“I lied.”

Wade smiled.

The warning siren continued screaming.

Rook pointed into the aircraft.

“Inside. Now.”

The survivors moved.

A roar emerged from the eastern valley.

Falcon’s helicopter appeared.

The aircraft listed badly to one side.

Smoke trailed from its damaged tail.

“Come on,” Rook whispered.

The helicopter crossed the edge of the runway.