A name I buried with my last command.
Miles mutters, “That’s not on any public roster.”
“No,” I say quietly. “It isn’t.”
A soldier breaks cover—young, scared, bleeding from the shoulder. He stumbles into the ravine corridor, hands shaking, rifle dangling uselessly.
“Stop!” he shouts in broken English. “We surrender!”
I lift a hand.
Delta Five freezes instantly.
I walk forward alone.
The soldier’s eyes lock onto mine—and his breath stutters like he’s just recognized the devil.
“You’re… Pierce,” he whispers. “The one who leaves no witnesses.”
That rumor again. So stretched out of shape.
I crouch in front of him, voice calm. Almost gentle.
“That’s not true.”
Hope flashes across his face.
I lean closer.
“I leavemessages.”
His breath comes fast. “Please—”
I stand.
And speak loudly enough for the forest to hear.
“Roscov.”
Silence.
Then the comm crackles.
“I wondered how long it would take,” Roscov says smoothly.
“I’m standing in your corridor,” I reply. “The one you use to move bodies. Weapons. Women.”
A pause.
“You should leave,” he says. “This ends badly for everyone.”
I glance at the trembling soldier behind me.
“This already ended badly,” I say. “You just haven’t caught up yet.”
I nod once to Aaron.
He moves—not to fire.
