Page 56 of Scars of Fate

I had loved that part of him.

The courage.

The honor.

The way he believed one life was worth crossing the world to save.

But loving a hero came with a price no one talked about.

The empty side of the bed.

The unanswered telephone.

The knock at the door you feared every time he left.

I had spent years pretending I was strong enough not to be afraid.

Until fear became the only thing I felt.

A rifle cracked behind us.

My entire body stiffened.

Boone looked toward the canyon.

“That was Hawk.”

“How can you tell?”

He smiled faintly.

“Hawk has a particular way of saying hello.”

Another shot followed.

Then three quick bursts of automatic fire.

“That wasn’t hello.”

“No.”

Boone’s smile disappeared.

“That was goodbye.”

He raised his radio.

“Adam, status?”

Static answered.

Boone stopped walking.

“Adam?”

Nothing.

The civilians crowded together behind him.