nna

silent vow: I would not

, tactical bag slung over my shoulder, he

d the unyielding authority of a man born to c

iting for the transport. Julian

particular

lled out my past tactical commendation medals-the ones I'd earned in

need to share this piece of myself with

his encrypted phone, thumbs moving rapidly ac

. I lowered my hand and ret

a hiss of pneumatic brakes.

chopper," Julian

his pocket and was walking away down the

cavernous tr

rills with simunition rounds that left welts on exposed skin. I pushed

or the upper trail. Halfway u

the path, moving behind

w, entirely untroubled. His inner crew surrounded him. Chlo

e university as Sienna?" she ask

eart began a slow, hea

sture lazy and insufferabl

rawled, "I'm maki

that he wanted to be rid o

shame scorch

h, retreating deep into the shadows

hollowed out and exhausted. But as I

e family w

eavy wooden crates of premium imported goods-a tribute t

room and clasped my hands. "How did yo

flooded

an. He was stari

pped the training to lounge with his crew and had used

pulled out an old commendation badge from my pocket-the new one was lost somewhere on the mountain-an

treated to the patio, I cornered

smell the expensive cologne and the faint trace of g

e as your shi

genuine panic. He grabbed my w

I'd loved my entire life, and for the first time,

over for y

ack on him an

-