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“Let’s move. Now!”
They dragged Frederick toward the chopper. Despite the bullet wound to the soldier’s arm, he was able to lift Frederick onto the chopper with the help of Dr. Reynolds. The doctor immediately began to evaluate the injuries. The pilot was yelling to them that help was minutes out.
One look behind them and she knew they didn’t have minutes. More needed to be done.
She shifted her gun to her shoulder and headed back out. She could hear the doctor calling to her to stay put, but she couldn’t. It was a war zone, and more soldiers were getting shot.
She ran toward the group of men being carried by other American soldiers. Sergeant Major Halloway was bringing up the rear. He had blood on him, but it was from the soldier he was carrying out. They all looked battered and bloodied. It was terrible to see them in this state. She was compelled to help. Then she saw past the sergeant major and directly toward men with guns running from the trees. They were not American soldiers running toward them, guns drawn.
“Get down,” she yelled to them as she pulled her firearm around her and aimed.
As the bullets filled the air around them all, she began firing her weapon, placing herself between the group of injured soldiers and the enemy. She watched them go down and barely felt the strike to her side and her arm. She just kept shooting, and Halloway was right beside her.
It wasn’t until she heard the sounds of explosions and gunfire from above that she realized help had indeed arrived and now they could focus on the injured.
“I thought I told you to stay in the chopper, Cass,” Halloway yelled at her, calling her by her first name. It was more personal, and she knew sharing this situation had changed their relationship altogether. But as the adrenaline rush began to leave her, the pain kicked in, and she fell to the ground on her knees. She’d been shot. Twice.
“And let our men die? No way, sir. Not today. I wasn’t going to sit there and watch them drop you guys like flies. No way.”
“You crazy son of a bitch. You are a Marine. I’d take you as part of my troop any time, Lance Corporal. Now let’s get on that chopper and head home.”
She lifted her arm from her side, and his eyes widened.
“I think I may need some help, sir.”
Chapter 1
Sergeant Major “Red” Halloway stood in full uniform at the retirement party for one of his friends. He almost hadn’t shown up. But his son Cash had talked him into going. Cash was now living back in Tranquility with his team and brother, Stryker. Red took a sip of bourbon from the glass he’d milked the last hour. He couldn’t even enjoy his drink, his mind on his son Stryker and how badly he suffered from his injuries. Marines just like him, both sons had nearly lost their lives serving. In a routine mission gone wrong, Stryker sustained injuries to his legs and hip. He was in such a state of anger and depression that none of the therapists that came to the house lasted more than a few days. He was obnoxious, downright mean, and said he didn’t care if he would walk correctly again or not. It didn’t even help that the rest of his team had taken up residence on the nearby ranch.
“Hello, sir.”
Red turned around to see Gunnery Sergeant Frederick Holt. Holt saluted him, and Red saluted him back before he pulled Frederick into a hug.
“Damn, this is turning into a fucking reunion of sorts. I’ve seen about five or six of the crew from that mission in Iraq that nearly took all our lives,” Frederick said as he joined Red by the bar and rubbed along his belly as if remembering the bullet he’d taken in his gut that day.
“I haven’t seen anyone. Where are they all hiding out?” Red asked. Frederick chuckled.
“They’re vying for one very special ER nurse’s attention.”
Red squinted his eyes.
“Who would that be?”
“The sexy Lance Corporal Cassidy Williams, sir.” Frederick chuckled.
“Cass is here? Where?” he asked, and Frederick laughed.
“Damn, you too?” he teased.
“Hell, I could be her father, hell, her grandfather.”
“Not a chance. Women like the older military types,” Frederick teased.
“Not Cass. She’s a gem. A God damn asset to the United States Marine Corps.”
“Not anymore. She retired. Took a civilian job in Houston. I’m surprised you haven’t bumped into her in your neck of the woods. You’ve got all those cool dance halls and, of course, Casper’s.”
Red couldn’t help but look around for Cass. It had been two years since he had seen her. He often wondered what she was up to. He’d recommended her for commendations and even a few medals for risking her own life to save the troops and taking out the enemy soldiers before they could take out more U.S. soldiers. She had more than proved her position as a Marine, never mind as an ER nurse.
