Chapter Fifteen

Safiya

D ark voices murmured, and my head swooped.

"Vehicle retreating. I'm calling it in."

"Fuck them. Sitrep later. We're out of here."

My body was jostled.

"Wait. We need coordinates. Team one to base two, copy?"

My tongue felt thick.

"I repeat, Omega to base two, do you copy?"

My arms were too heavy to lift.

"You're wasting fucking time, and I bet my paycheck that fucker didn't leave. You know his reputation. He's regrouping. We need to exfil. Scorpio, open the slider. Recon the backyard and report back."

I needed to follow…. I needed… proto… proto….

"Omega to base two, target is secure. Opposition is bugging out. Standing by for RTB."

Protocols . What was I supposed to remember?

"All clear, Sarg."

"Copy. Omega, fuck the radio and fuck base. We're out. Scorpio, tip of the spear. Haz, lock it up. Venom, on my six. Exfil, exfil, exfil."

My body jerked.

My lungs were sluggish.

My head was spinning.

Wind struck my face.

Protocols .

Earthy. Pine.

You scream, you both die.

Damp moss.

Lucky bitch.

Soft breeze.

This isn't goodbye.

The wind faded.