Page 29 of Broken Oath

The woman stood among the wreckage and looked toward the bodies of six fallen SEALs.

Her jaw tightened.

Anger flashed across her face.

Cold.

Controlled.

Deadly.

Then it vanished.

She slung her rifle over her shoulder and returned to Rook.

As she leaned over him, her gloved hand brushed the blood and dirt from the side of his face.

It wasn’t a caress.

There was nothing gentle or romantic about it.

She was checking his wounds.

Nothing more.

Still, her hand paused when Rook released a faint breath against her wrist.

He was alive.

She intended to keep him that way.

The woman grabbed him beneath the arms and dragged him into the darkness.

Somewhere beyond the mountains, a traitor believed every member of Rook’s team was dead.

For now, the woman intended to let him keep believing it.

2

ROOK

Something tugged at Rook’s arm.

Tape.

Plastic tubing.

A needle buried beneath his skin.

He tried to breathe.

Fire exploded through his ribs.

A groan escaped before he could stop it.

Somewhere nearby, a machine answered.

Beep.