“Move! Move! Move!” Adam yells, and we do as we’re ordered.
My breathing is heavy as I take cover and shoot, praying we kill these motherfuckers before they kill us.
A bullet zings past me and sends dirt scattering through the air, momentarily blinding me.
“Kowalski’s been hit!” Adam yells. “I need cover!”
“Goddammit!” Mark yells into the radio. “These fuckers have me pinned. I can’t move! Sullivan!”
“I’m on it!” I call back and scan the area, making my move when the time is right.
“Stay with me, Jay,” I hear Adam say and I fire my gun as I hunker down next to him. “We’re gonna get you out of here, just hold on, man.” Blood coats Jay’s shoulder and neck where Adam firmly has his hand placed, putting pressure on the wound as he calls over the radio for a medic.
Everything seems to be going in fast motion. Bullets fly all around us, and I return fire.
Boom! Crack!
“Take care of yourself, boys.”Jenna’s soft, sweet voice plays out in my memory.“Keep each other safe. Promise me you’ll come home.”
I’m not one for breaking promises, and this one I intend to keep.
“Damn it, Jay, come on. Don’t pass out on me!” Adam yells as I fire toward the ridge in front of us, and then I hear it, the bone-chilling scream right next to me. Blood spatters my face as I turn to Adam and see three bullets shred through him, his body convulsing with every hit. I watch as my best friend collapses to the ground next to Jay, and I quickly spin to return fire behind us.
“Fuck, Adam,” I say and scramble next to him as I call over the radio that we’ve got another man down. “Shit. Oh shit. Adam!”
“Cole,” he cries out and blood oozes from his mouth. “Oh God, it fucking hurts!”
“I gotcha,” I tell him just as John appears next to me. “We’ve gotta move! Ramirez, take Kowalski!” Grabbing on to Adam’s vest, I pull him from our compromised location to safety. His hands start shaking as I get him situated, and his eyes close. “Adam! Don’t you dare go tosleep.Open your fucking eyes!”
“I can’t—” Adam chokes out between shallow breaths.
“You can and you will,” I tell him.
”I need you … to do …” His entire face contorts in pain as he cries out in agony. “I need you to do me a favor.”
“No,” I say. Although I’d do anything for him, I refuse to do any of hisbiddingsright now. He needs to fight, and if I agree to these favors, I’m letting him die.
“Tell my parents I love them,” Adam says, his breathing labored.
Goddammit, where’s themedic?
“And take care of Jenna,” he tells me and a faint grinsplaysacross his blood covered lips. “Kick Mark’s ass for me if he doesn’t treat her right.”
“Fuck you,” I say. My voice breaks as I fight back the warm wetness filling my eyes. “Just hang on, man.”
Adam’s eyes close. I shake him as I yell for him to open them. But he doesn’t, and I notice how still he is all of a sudden. I’m numb as all I can do is stare at my lifeless best friend.
“Sullivan, on your left!”
Mark’s voice registers a little too late, and pain like I’ve never felt before rips through my shoulder as gunshots echo through the air. I hit the ground hard and gasp from the immense burn and agony down my arm and in my chest. I can’t breathe, it hurts too fucking bad. I roll over onto my back and the sunlight blinds me, but then I hear her. She’s calling my name. I want to answer, but I can’t. Her sweet voice is the last thing I hear before I let the darkness take me.
