Page 7 of Broken Oath

Night vision lowered.

Professionals once more.

But Rook couldn’t shake the feeling.

Far below them, hidden among the mountains of Afghanistan, something was waiting.

And for the first time that night, he wasn’t sure they were the hunters.

The helicopter banked behind a ridgeline and dropped toward the landing zone.

Nine shadows stepped into the darkness.

Cold air slammed into Rook’s face the moment his boots touched the ground.

He dropped into a crouch, bringing his rifle up as he scanned the surrounding terrain.

The helicopter rose behind them and disappeared beyond the mountains.

Silence rushed back in.

The team spread out automatically.

Years of training.

Years of trust.

Hammer and Ghost moved to the front.

Sniper drifted left.

Tex covered the rear.

Bishop and Ridge secured the right flank.

Fathom checked the tablet mounted to his vest.

Rook touched his headset.

“Move.”

The team advanced.

Loose rock shifted beneath their boots as the terrain grew steeper.

The outer wall appeared first.

Then rooftops.

Then the main building at the center of the compound.

Everything stood exactly where it should have been.

Yet the valley felt wrong.

Rook raised a fist.

The entire team froze.