Page 64 of Scars of Fate

Boone fired twice.

One soldier dropped.

The others spread out.

They were surrounding us.

I bent lower over Samir.

For six years, I had walked into dangerous places believing I understood the risk.

I had told myself the truth was worth it.

That someone had to show the world what was happening.

But crouched behind that rock with a dying man in my arms, I finally understood what Lucas had lived with every time I left.

Helplessness.

Fear.

The terrible knowledge that love gave the world something it could take from you.

Footsteps crunched above us.

Boone raised his rifle.

The magazine clicked empty.

He reached for another.

Too late.

A soldier stepped onto the rocks.

His weapon swung toward us.

A shot cracked through the ravine.

The soldier fell.

Another enemy spun toward the ridge.

Two more shots.

Two more bodies dropped.

Boone stared upward.

A figure emerged through the smoke.

Tall.

Blood streaked one side of his face.

His tactical shirt was torn.

His silver eyes found me instantly.