im, she looked at him up and down, side to side, and she was really examining him like he was an item she wa

a journalist

"Not really. And I'm happy to expl

'll accept whatever your reason as of now. But..." She let

bility flashing in those big eyes of

ow Thalia very well. And yet he knew without a shred of doubt that rev

t me," he pro

d. "All righ

d to know how to ride a horse. He noticed that she even

n behind Thalia and wrapping his arms around

dy scent filled his nostrils - cherry bloss

fortable?" H

, I'm

ng through a bit of

flank and a low demand to get moving. The horse instantly took off in a canter, then quickened his gait at his

ugh his blood, he felt calm. He'd infiltrated that military camp without a single hitch. He even killed the two guard soldiers just to

s operation wa

for any signs of trouble. But no sirens sounded. No helicopters flew overhead. Bullets were not rained on them either. The sold

fortunately it was already the middle of the night, the road was also dark because there we

r focused on controlling the horse, he was more aware o

kay with t

er voice was subdued, but he

, where did you learn that?" he asked

nd owned a ran

ct that. But he just

ea

re you out with a boyf

for a short time. It only laste

ostrils. His groin stirred, then tightened, making him suppress a gro

addle so she wouldn't feel the proof of his

met a rancher who owned horses, and

Thalia blushed a

e days. My friends and I were on vacation in Dallas, and yeah, I m

n't attracted to me, or I'm j

in a man. I don't care about the id

Was that her way of saying she wouldn

ia under the moon is not a romantic date, but a way to get aw

n I passed by that they have trucks. Let's leave the horse there and

"I have nowhere else

et back to the clinic. This is the first

"I have to let my colleagues know th

ht be waiting for them at the clinic. But it will be more difficult if he is forced to take the girl to t

really knows," said Thalia. "Because Doc Kelvin didn't give me any details on...My

ere." Dean s

id you

he girl that her do

asked in a scared voi

t a deep br

you s

ers there that Dr. Cart

s

emotion. She di

shaking, he would have thought

e managed to squeeze her shoulder gent

ust for a second, before she l

l approach the clinic from the hills. That will give us a bird's-eye vi

e protested what he said. "I

" His tone brooked no argument. "Just follow what

I'm not afraid of your threat, Dean

witched. "

said to him. "My colleagues at the clinic are like real family to me, and I don't want to see them hurt. Whatever happened in the village of Esmeralda, the soldiers there just wanted to cover up so

kno

h me leaving them in this situatio

those who are looking for you right now. And second, I won't ask for forgiveness if I save mys

he silky plait and tucked it underneath the collar of Thalia's shirt, then focused on leading the horse through the darkened foot

approached his vision, the spirit seem

od," sai

. No way to console the suddenly shivering woman in front o

s and engulfed the entire Doctors International buildi

a fireworks display. The other soldiers were just standing guard at the front door and they were holding their rifles. Dean suspected that the

t an arrow of pain to his heart. He wrapped his arms aro

ink...do you think...Oh, my god," she said and

nurses were burned alive inside the clinic. The memory of the teenage girl he'd met this morning

ope the soldiers shoot them first rather than those insi

rn. They sat astride the horse, shrouded in the darkness, Dean

doing?" Thalia

followed the movements of their hands for a moment. He had to squint to make sense of what h

ing a red haze of fury. "That's the UFF's symbol. They want

inside the clinic, and now they will pass the blame to the rebel group. Once the U.S. caught wind of

was now shaking like a leaf in a tropical storm. Her breathing came out in unsteady

tly stroking the sides of her ar

breathing exercise over and over again, until she was able to speak again

*