Prologue

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, AFGHANISTAN

Drool ran down the back of his hand.

"Knock it off, you goon," Davis Ledger muttered to his military working dog. He swiped at the liquid. Shifted his prone position on the rocky ground so he wasn't in the slobber LZ. "Down," he commanded the sable German shepherd.

Panting, Fury conceded, lowering his muscular frame. Like the wretch he was, he licked Davis's cheek, hot breath puffing against Davis's skin.

When the wet snout hit his ear, Davis jerked his head away. It reminded him of the wet willies his childhood best friend used to give him. He'd hated it then. Hated it now.

Fury yawned, clearly happy with himself, as suppressed chuckles from the rest of the nearby team filtered over. Davis shot a glare at his partner through the dusk slowly seeping into darkness. Resumed his patient watch of the mud-brown area below.

The compound was tucked between the craggy hills that were surrounded by parched, cracked dirt. Dust, dust, and more dust. That's all this part of the region was. A cluster of guards relaxed by the faded blue gate, smoking, AKs slung over their shoulders. Davis could have sworn the same company made the security gates for every Third World country he'd been to. They all looked the same. But it also meant they were familiar and easy to breach when you'd done it a few dozen times.

"Trouble in paradise, honey?" His friend Luke Ross razzed him. They'd been buddies ever since clawing their way through Basic. The guy was solid as they came but never missed a chance to joke around. Even from a few feet away, Luke's bright white smile was visible. It'd earned him the name Pearly.

"That's all he's got," his team leader, Shaw, chimed in.

"Yeah, but what a way to go." Luke again. The inflection in his tone drew another round of quiet chuckles. "When's the last time you took a girl out? Second grade?"

Davis shook his head. Not everyone found the love of their life on the first day of school like Luke and his wife, Jana. Davis admired their relationship. It resembled only one other that he'd seen. They were more devoted to each other than any of the relationship examples his mom had shown him growing up. Gave him hope that someday he might find the same thing.

Thought he'd found it once. He'd been wrong.

Least, that's what he told himself.

Wind started picking up, and Davis heard Luke's MWD, Reza, shift in her down position. She and Fury were two of the best electronic detection dogs in the military. They could find a mini USB in a sandstorm. Which was why they were both on the mission to acquire a USB drive with missile codes that intel claimed some fool had decided to sell to a warlord with ties to Al-Qaeda. Namely, the warlord camped out in the compound below.

Fury held up a giant paw. Swung it in the air in Reza's direction. She ignored him completely.

"Hey," Davis whispered loudly to his partner. "Pull yourself together. No flirting on missions."

Luke smirked at Reza. "Tell him he can flirt all he wants." He ran a hand down the Malinois's neck. "It'll just prove how much more dedicated you are to the job when you find the USB first because lover boy can't see straight."

"Yeah, we'll see who finds it."

"Loser buys?" Luke held out a fist.

"You're on." Davis leaned over and tapped his gloved hand to his friend's.

"VT6. Seller approaching the compound," came the gravelly voice of their team sniper, Rafkin, who was perched uphill, farther behind the team. Ten yards to their left, Zaid and Niles were set up and waiting for the signal to move in.

Fatigue poking his neck from the prone position he'd been in, Davis narrowed his eyes at the faint dust trail marking the progress of a small approaching convoy. The quasi-uniformed guards at the gate straightened their caps and unlatched the main gate. Swung it wide as three meticulous HiLuxes pulled into the courtyard.

"Buyer's coming out to meet him." Rafkin's calm voice could've been announcing sports scores. "Identity confirmed. It's Hardy."

After shifting his scope to the middle truck in the convoy, Davis watched a man in a suit step out of the vehicle, leather briefcase in hand.

"Confirmed seller onsite. Laurel." Rafkin again.

"Cleared to engage," came the order from VT6.

Shaw's voice nearly stepped on Command's transmission. "Lock and load."

With a flick of his right thumb, Davis rotated the selector switch on his M4 from SAFE to SEMI.

Just outside the front door of the main compound building, Laurel and Hardy—the code names for the warlord and seller—greeted each other. The lead truck in the convoy crept ahead a few feet before stopping again.

Rafkin growled over the comms. "No joy," he hissed.

Laurel and Hardy disappeared inside with five personal security as gate guards returned to their posts—and two lit cigarettes. Clearly not expecting trouble.

Happy to disappoint, gents.

Davis glanced sideways at Fury.

The lug met him eye to eye, eager for the signal to work.

Time dragged by as they waited for Shaw to make the call. The hills around them turned purple-gray and finally disappeared into the night.

Still, they waited. It was above Davis's pay grade to know the ins and outs of why. All he and Fury were there for was to ensure mission success.

Compound lights winked out.

"Go, go, go." Shaw's voice broke the extended quiet.

Sliding backward to avoid silhouetting himself above the horizon, Davis pushed off the dirt and trekked stealthily toward the compound. Fury padded at his side, his NVGs breaking up the moonlit outline of his head. Davis paused at the expanse between the hills and building. Crouched, M4 tucked to his shoulder, he hid behind a cluster of scrub bushes ten yards from the gate to his right. Grasped Fury's harness. He didn't need to look around to know the rest of his team had moved into position as well.

Crack!

The sound from Rafkin's sniper rifle rippled through the night a few seconds after the bullet's impact threw one of the guards back. Davis took out the second gate guard even as the guy's startled companions brought up their weapons, looking around.

Crack! Crack!

Stalking forward, Shaw and Niles took out the remaining guards.

"Gate clear!" Luke shouted.

"Moving." Davis crouch-ran for the gate. "Fury, let's go." The green cast from his NVGs gave him a haphazard line of sight as he hustled forward. Slipped past the iron entry, attention trained on his highly skilled MWD. Over fifty-thousand dollars had gone into training this four-legged warrior, and Davis had learned to trust the dog.

Fury slightly ahead and sniffing, Davis also depended on the team to do their jobs, which allowed the MWD handlers to focus on the dogs. Luke and Reza swept the left side of the area.

Gaze locked down the barrel of his weapon, Davis continued his visual sweep along the left wall. The courtyard was empty from what he could see. Tail up, Fury continued to seek. Didn't alert to the presence of any explosives. Guess they wouldn't be blown to kingdom come just yet.

Skirting around the north edge, they came up to the front door. Luke gave him a thumbs-up.

"Courtyard clear," Davis affirmed.

Like water through a sieve, the team filtered past the iron entrance.

The first level of the building still sat dark and quiet in the ominous night. "Fury, fuss." Suspicious, nerves buzzing, he waited, weapon trained on the metal door the warlord and buyer had disappeared behind hours earlier.

No response fire greeted them. He hustled back a few steps with Fury to take cover as Niles picked the lock. Luke and Reza stood ready opposite him. They'd search for the USB containing missile codes after he and Fury cleared the rooms for any explosives. Reza wasn't cross-trained for that.

Fury jerked like he was trying to go behind Davis. "Easy," he hissed in a whisper, firmly gripping the handle on the dog's tac vest. Fury always got amped up before a search. His one downfall. "Stay."

The MWD whined but complied.

"On your six." His squad leader's low words over the comms warned him before the man melted from the shadows, M4 at the ready.

Niles shoved the unlocked door open, and Shaw breached first, quickly dispatching two tangos with brutal efficiency. The house was silent as Davis slipped inside, pulse thrumming, eyes out.

"Fury, seek-seek!" Muscles tense, finger against the trigger well, Davis stalked forward with his MWD into the combined dining and lounge area.

No alerts, nothing out of the ordinary. Various other rooms, all clear. No bedrooms on the lower level.

Clicking his tongue, Davis drew Fury toward the stairs. M4 firmed, he carefully ascended the rickety steps. Sweat trickled down his back under his personal protective equipment as he continued, breathing a sigh of relief when Fury reached the top, glanced around without alerting. Shadows hung on every inch of the walls, the air heavy with the stagnant smell of body odor and old smoke. But he saw no one through his NVGs.

Luke and Reza reached the landing. "Go, go."

He moved forward.

The door to the first bedroom hung slightly ajar. Davis reached for it. Shoved it open with the muzzle of his M4. Glanced around the room. Faint moonlight fell through the window onto a man lying in bed. His frame was similar to the seller Rafkin had ID'd earlier. Fury trotted over to the bed and sniffed.

Tense for a reaction, Davis eased closer for a better look, M4 trained on the guy. Something felt off.

Adrenaline spiked. He closed the gap. Saw blank eyes staring up. Mouth agape. Davis shoved the muzzle of his weapon against the guy's sternum a couple times. No response. Davis keyed his mic. "Laurel's dead," he said tersely. His gaze stalled on an open plastic container—empty—on the nightstand. "Looks like they didn't trust the guy." He indicated to the table. "Fury, seek."

The sable GSD glided from his side, searching the room quickly. Efficiently.

Luke and Reza entered and went to work. The Malinois sniffed swiftly back and forth, snout tracking.

Davis felt his adrenaline ratchet another notch as he watched. Waited. The MWD made her way across the room. Thrust her sensitive nose into every corner and crevice.

Nothing.

Fury growled softly, shoving past them back into the hallway.

Taking the cue, Davis followed, weapon up, expecting trouble. Saw that sable tail vanish into a second room. Checked it. Still nothing except a bleary-eyed man, who stumbled and brandished a weapon.

Davis neutralized the threat as Reza and Fury headed to the last bedroom, single-minded in their efforts. Under the empty bed. In the wardrobe. Around the nightstand. Frustration coiled and he keyed his mic at—again—coming up short. "Target and buyer rabbited." Made sure his tone didn't betray the irritation they all felt. "Likely together. Don't let him leave the compound."

The team copied.

"Movement at the front," Rafkin's voice warned from his nest on the hill.

Davis bit back a curse.

Fury was still sniffing around. Intensity in the GSD's body language ramped up. He was lead team. Should be the one heading outside first, but if he had something . . .

Davis turned to Luke. "I'll finish here. Go."

Luke nodded. Double-patted his leg, recalling Reza, and they raced down the stairs.

Fury turned to Davis. Wagged his tail. False alarm. "Let's go."

They retraced their steps to the lower level. Hustled to the front.

"Nonlethal measures!" Shaw growled into the comms. "We need him to talk."

Crack! Crack!

Gunfire outside snatched Davis's attention as his boot hit the bottom step. He booked it to the front door. Paused to clear it before hurrying into the courtyard. Saw Luke engaging Hardy, who seemed to be impervious to the bullets flying at him. Davis drew down on the warlord. Hit his leg and the guy pitched forward. Tumbled. Came up running toward the parked convoy.

Luke slipped the lead off of Reza. "Get him!"

Through the green oculars, Davis watched the Mal charge off with Luke close behind. Hardy lifted a fist near the truck he was closing in on.

What was he holding?

Whoosh!

Even as the fireball erupted, Davis felt himself punched backward amid the bright flash that lit the night. His NVGs were shoved out of place. Black spots dotted his vision.

Boom!

Vibration from the blast shook around him before he collided with a plaster wall. Hot pain tore through his shoulder despite his PPE. He bounced against the ground. Rolled. Came to a stop face up. He opened his mouth. Gasped for air.

His lungs refused the request.

He tried again. Oxygen rushed in, thick with gasoline and smoke from the fully engulfed HiLux. Coughing, gagging, ears ringing, head bombarded by warbled voices he couldn't place, Davis scrambled but got nowhere. Blinked through the haze. Where was Fury? He couldn't move. Was pinned to the ground. By what? His shoulder screamed at him, and he felt like a truck was lodged in his ribs.

Gingerly, Davis looked down the length of his body. Spotted jagged metal sticking out of his side. It'd managed to lodge itself between the cracks of his PPE. That was gonna leave a mark.

He groaned. Choked on another wave of pain dragging him toward unconsciousness.

Gotta stay awake. Get Fury.

Wait. Fury. Where was he?

Davis looked around, not caring about the pain it caused. Ears still ringing, he saw flames from the truck coiling and twisting upward. They snapped at the night sky. Then he saw.

Fury. Lying a few yards away.

"Fur—" He coughed—which sent shards of pain through his chest. "Fury!" His diaphragm seized, and fear clutched his chest. Squeezed tight as he strained through the dust and smoke hanging in the air.

The big lug wasn't moving. Davis twisted to look over his shoulder. Call for help. Nausea rose in his throat.

Luke. Or what was left of him.

Davis cursed.

In the light from the fire, he saw his friend's body lying in a heap, cut nearly in half by a chunk of the pickup, eyes open and unseeing. Reza, a few feet beyond her handler. She was?—

Davis retched.

No, no.

A guttural half yell spilled from him. He tried to scoot closer. Tried to get to his friend, but the metal in his side held him fast. Pain had him seeing black spots. The contents of his stomach nearly made another appearance.

"Luke!" The yell vibrated in his chest. His head.

"Ledger. Keep still." Shaw appeared. Dropped at his side, combat lifesaver kit open. "Pearly's gone." He shook his head and went to work on Davis. He activated the quick-releases on Davis's vest, then carefully ran his fingers around the edges before checking for a clear airway and moving on to extremities. Expression hard, Shaw finally began packing field dressings around the metal object projecting from Davis's side.

Pain ripped through him.

"Reza . . . " Davis could feel himself teetering on the edge of blacking out.

Shaw shook his head somberly. "Medevac is three mikes out."

What had he done? Had Hardy been outside the whole time? Was that what Fury'd been trying to tell him before they entered the home?

Luke. He'd gotten his friend killed. Should have been him out the door first.

"Whoa! Fury, out!"

Davis blinked. Looked for the source of the shout. Fury was up—alive!—and trotting around the truck. Looking. Searching. For Davis? For his furry friend? He wouldn't be working any more missions with her. The landshark snapped at Niles, who jumped back, gripping his rifle.

"Quit, man!" Niles screeched.

"Fury, here!" Davis gruffed, the pain excruciating at the effort of calling his dog off.

The GSD's large head whipped in his direction and he charged. Shaw leaned back slightly as Fury came in hot. The lug's wet tongue was all over Davis's face the second he got close. He dug his fingers in his dog's hairy coat.

"Hey, buddy." He chuckled, distracted for a split second from the agony. "You okay, then? Just wanted to give me a heart attack?" He did his best not to look at Luke's body. Tried not to think about Jana and the notification she'd be getting.

The sable German shepherd lay down beside him and set his head on Davis's good shoulder.

The thwump-thwump-thwump of chopper blades whirling in the sky preceded the CH-47 Chinook that soon hovered over the compound. Dust swirled around as it lowered.

As combat medics raced over with a stretcher, Davis felt his head swimming. His side and shoulder were on fire. His hearing was hollow. Vision graying . . .

"Boss . . . " His words were lost in the thunderous sound of the helo.

Shaw turned just as Davis felt his body go slack.