I raise an arm to swipe the dust and sweat from my face, and I can see Brutus.
He’s yelling something, I think, his arms stretched across the vehicle, gripping Staff Sergeant Winters’ shoulder as blood seeps through his fingers.
Magnolia’s laugh fills my mind, and I think back to the last summer we spent together back home, the way she licked her finger and held it in the air.The Great Bambi.
Lukas, get up, baby…
She’s hovering over me, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders.
It’s time to fight.
A brighter flash of light. The door is ripped open and the smoke billows out. Someone punches me in the shoulder, and I look to my opposite side where Brutus is now outside. He’s reaching for me, tugging me by my flak vest to pull me out of the burning vehicle.
I fall to the ground, dizzy, drunk, momentarily paralyzed as he drags me through the dirt, propping me behind a huge boulder next to Staff Sergeant Winters.
I gasp for my next breath, sucking in the fresh air. My ears crack, the pain piercing. Bullets fly all around us, none even coming close.
Brutus shoves my rifle into my chest, and my hands fly to the trigger. Training starts to kick in. Muscles adapting.
This is what they worked us for. This is what we’ve been training for—it’s time.
The three of us position ourselves. Staff Sergeant Winters is firing orders, but I still can’t make out what he’s saying. I tap my ear and shake my head, and he nods, using his hands to signal our attack. My eyes flick to what’s behind him, to the two burning vehicles.
The first humvee took the worst hit; the fire’s already dying out, leaving nothing behind except a black metal frame. I look around, hoping, begging, that I see someone out here besides the three of us. A few of our guys are on the opposite side of the road, taking shelter behind their vehicle, which thankfully looks unscathed.
Then my eyes fly to the second vehicle, the one that flipped on top of ours. The flames are hot, licking up the side of my face even though we’re thirty feet away.
We need to fire back. We need to take them down so we can get to them.
To Collins.
I twist, setting the barrel of my rifle in between two of the bigger rocks. Brutus lines up next to me. He elbows me once, nodding when he catches my eye, as if to ask,you ready?
I nod back, pushing out a slow breath.
My finger moves over the trigger, curling around the worn metal.
And I fire.
CHAPTER 25
Lukas
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD
Dear Lukas,
Happy birthday month, baby! I know it’s not the ideal way to spend your birthday, but I hope you get to celebrate in some way. There is a care package on its way to you. Your mom and I teamed up to think of every snack that you might like, doubled the amount, and sent it out hoping you and the guys can have a makeshift birthday cake. Knowing you, you likely won’t tell anyone it’s your birthday because you don’t want to fuss. But I hope you at least told Collins. I know he’d try to find a way to make it special for you, even a lit match stuck into a stale brownie would be better than nothing! But maybe that’s the optimist in me.
I promise once you’re back home, we’ll get together and make up for all of the birthdays and holidays thatwe’ve missed. I’m thinking a remote cabin somewhere, or a hut on a deserted beach. Somewhere that doesn’t have cell service. Somewhere people don’t walk by. It’ll be just us … clothing optional ;)
I miss you like crazy. I’m heading into the off season and plan to make a trip back to Copper Ridge to see Nana. She asks about you all the time, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she loves you more than me. She fell victim to the Lukas Hart charm just like the rest of us.
Take care, my love. Please write me when you can, even if it’s three sentences to say you’re alive and well, or write me your favorite memory of us. I’d be happy hearing anything from you.
Love you forever - Magnolia
CHAPTER 26
