Page 45 of Scars of Fate

LUCAS

The canyon shook beneath the rumble of armored vehicles.

I glanced toward the eastern road.

Three armored personnel carriers.

Two armed technicals carrying more fighters.

This wasn’t a rescue mission anymore.

It was a battlefield.

Adam reached my position and dropped beside me behind the boulder.

“What’ve we got?”

I adjusted my scope.

“Three APCs. Two technicals loaded with fighters.”

Hawk let out a low whistle over the radio.

“They’re serious.”

Russ’s voice crackled through my earpiece.

“The civilians are moving. Boone’s got them headed toward the western trail.”

Adam nodded.

“Good.”

He looked at me.

“We buy them time.”

I smiled.

“My favorite kind of mission.”

Adam returned the grin.

“I figured.”

Another burst of enemy fire slammed into the rocks.

Stone fragments sprayed across my vest.

The enemy commander stepped out of the lead armored vehicle.

Through my scope, I could tell he wasn’t a local militia member.

His uniform was immaculate.

His movements deliberate.

Professional.