Page 83 of Broken Oath

Reef walked toward the memorial table.

He stopped in front of Hammer’s photograph and picked up the challenge coin.

His thumb moved over the engraving.

“They deserved better.”

Nobody answered.

Because they had.

Reef returned the coin to its place.

Exactly where it belonged.

Then he turned toward Rook.

“What happened?”

The mountain flashed through Rook’s mind.

Gunfire.

Fire.

Blood.

Viking’s final stand.

“We were betrayed.”

“I figured that much.”

“Someone gave the enemy our complete mission package. They knew every route, every frequency, and every contingency.”

“How many fighters?”

“Hundreds.”

Reef’s jaw clenched.

“They built an army to kill nine men.”

“Yes.”

“And the woman with the silver sword?”

“We don’t know who she is.”

“She knew you survived.”

“She’s the reason we survived.”

Reef looked at the envelope.

“She pulled you off the mountain?”

“We believe so.”