Isil, most likely.
Sarah gritted her teeth, facing the facts grimly. It was nearly the worst-case scenario.
But not quite...
Hearing the thud of what sounded like footsteps approaching, Sarah closed her eyes pretending to still be unconscious.
* * *
So much for having the insurgents contained in this quadrant, Captain Brand Reardon acknowledged grimly, dropping the binoculars that were hanging by a strap around his neck. They were close enough to where camp was set up to radio in via satellite, and backup was on its way. Luckily, he and Sarge had been far enough behind on the trail of the supply truck to see the explosion and were able to pull back in time and remain out of sight with the jeep.
“I only counted three of ‘em,” Brand said quietly.
“We need to hold back and be sure,” Sarge muttered. “I don’t like it any more than you do, but we gotta make sure we’re not heading into something worse.”
Brand grunted his agreement. The driver and three of his team had been driven away in a separate direction by approximately a dozen men in a large truck after they’d all been pulled out from the wreckage.
But damn it, once he’d seen another three men break away from the group and drag away Sarah, who’d looked to be badly injured and unconscious, all he’d wanted to do was swoop in and rescue her.
“At least it looks like all five of them made it.”
“And what good is that if we can’t get ‘em out?” Brand asked gruffly. He’d seen countless victims of torture and rape...and heinous slow death at the hands of the ruthless terrorists intent on taking control of Syria and Iraq, as well as the entire middle east.
They sat and waited a few hours until darkness began settling in.
Why was it taking so long for backup? Brand wondered.
He finally became restless, staring at the sky. “We gotta hope we’ll get someone here soon. But the way I see it, they only way to save Sarah, if she’s even still alive, is to take them by surprise, and it’s gonna be dark soon.”
“Our backup might have gone after the others instead with the chopper. Are we ready?” Sarge asked. “I hate that they ordered no more radio contact.”
Brand nodded grimly, preparing his M9. At least Sarge had a rifle. The other weapons had been loaded in the supply truck, and they’d watched everything that hadn’t been destroyed in the explosion being carried away with his team.
“I’ll enter first,” Brand said grimly.
Sarge looked ready to argue, but Brand stared him down. “You back me up.”
Obviously reluctant, Sarge nodded his agreement.
They moved together stealthily, quietly, moving around behind the entrance to the cave.
Waiting and watching the opening for several minutes, Brand finally made his move.
It was a good thing his Beretta was ready, because he needed it right away. One quick shot to the forehead, and the man collapsed to the ground as one of the two remaining men began shooting.
Sarge took care of him as Brand entered the opening and was targeted by the final terrorist.
Brand ducked and motioned to Sarge, who gunned him down.
“Damn it,” Sarge cursed. “I’ve been hit.”
“How bad?” Brand growled.
“I’ll be alright. Go find her.”
Brand moved further inside the cavern, which was surprisingly well-lit with what appeared to be battery-operated lanterns.
Oh, Sarah, he silently moaned once he saw her.
Stripped naked, her hands and feet had been bound with rope.
Or rather her foot. Oh, my God, he thought to himself.
She was still alive, but barely.
Laying his pistol on the ground, he pulled out a knife and began cutting the rope from her hands and ankle.
She groaned softly.
Yanking off his shirt, he bent down, carefully inching the shirt over her head and slowly covering her up.
“It’s Brand, Sarah,” he said softly. “And you’re safe. I’m not going to let anything else happen to you. I promise. Do you understand?”
She answered in a whisper. “Yes.”
“I’m going to hold you. Okay? I want you to know that I’m here for you.”
And she let Brand pull her into his arms.
Sarge came scrambling in to the cavern. “Oh geez,” he said. “What did they do to her? I don’t give a damn about radio contact. I want to find out what’s holding them up.”
“Alright,” Brand answered. “I don’t want to move her until help arrives.”
“I’ll be right outside.”
“Yeah, go. Tell them we need a chopper here, quick. She’s in bad shape, and she’s lost a lot of blood. Make sure you mention that you were hit too,” Brand growled, noticing the blood oozing from Sarge’s arm.
Brand sighed with relief when another fifteen minutes later, the chopper arrived, and he began gathering items that looked like they belonged to Sarah, including a knife. Apparently, she’d tried to fight them off. Her foot must’ve been blown in the explosion.
Gently, he scooped her up, and she groaned.
“That’s okay, Sarah,” he whispered. He couldn’t help kissing her gently on the forehead. “Help’s arrived. I just wish I could go along with you to make sure you’ll be alright.”
Ten minutes later, he was loading Sarah in the chopper, and she squeezed his hand before letting it go. “Thank you, Brand,” she whispered, before apparently losing consciousness.
Chapter One
Hayward, Wisconsin.
January 2, 2018
Sarah took a final glance around the room. It would be difficult leaving home; it had been her sanctuary for the last year, but it was time to start over and she was looking forward to moving on.
Her twin brother Alex had been an Air Force pilot who’d been killed in action in Iraq when his Raptor had been hit by insurgent gunfire after the bombing of Kobani, so learning Sarah had been captured and severely wounded one year later had taken its toll on her parents.
Particularly after she’d returned home. Not only had Sarah gone through physical rehab and been fitted for a prosthetic, she’d undergone intense psychological counselling.
But Sarah had always valued her independence, and now that she was reassured both Mom and Dad were finally able to understand she had no regrets about her military career, despite her injuries and the disappointing response from the U.S. government after her abduction, it was time to finally move forward.
Her brother’s former fiancé was living in Crystal Rock, Wisconsin, and was a nurse at the recently built wounded warrior facility, and Sarah would be staying with Melinda until she found a place of her own.
Luke Bryant, Alex’s best friend, also happened to be living there in town too, and he’d been the one to suggest that Sarah apply for an administrator’s position at the newly commissioned wounded warrior training facility for enlisted men and women planning on returning to active duty. He’d also mentioned he was flying a plane which Sarah might be able to use when she was ready to hit the air again since it had adaptive equipment for a prosthetic.
Sarah looked at herself in the mirror one last time. She’d finally put on a little weight, so at least she no longer appeared gaunt and lifeless.
When she’d arrived home last year, she’d only weighed about ninety-five pounds, which wasn’t much for someone who was five-foot ten.
But it was strange to look at herself right now with her long dark hair since she’d always worn it short. It hadn’t been intentional, but she’d decided since she was starting over, a new look might be just what she needed.
And Mel would help her out with that, Sarah knew. Mel had always been so put together. And sexy, as her brother Alex used to say when he’d bragged about his beautiful fiancé.
There was one thing she’d forgotten, Sarah realized, dropping her suitcase to the floor. She’d left the picture of her former team near her bedside. She’d felt comforted
looking at those faces, particularly Brand Reardon, who’d been one of the men who’d saved her life on that final mission.
She’d been in shock, and a bloody mess, with her clothes ripped off. He’d yanked off his t-shirt from over his head and had gently pulled it over hers, tugging it down and covering her up. Brand had reassured her with a soothing voice, even before he’d lifted her into his arms and walked her over to the chopper that’d been waiting to airlift her out.
Where was he now? She’d half hoped to hear from him later, so she could thank him for being so thoughtful and understanding when she’d needed it the most.
Sighing, she unzipped the bag she had hoisted over her shoulder and slipped the picture inside. Picking up her suitcase, she glanced around the room.
Ruefully, she grinned. It’s not like she was enlisting again, but in some strange way, the moment seemed equally significant since she was leaving home.
Walking downstairs, she laid down her bag and luggage at the foot of the staircase, bracing herself before entering the family room where the farewell party her family was hosting for her would be happening soon.
It was the day after New Year’s, and Sarah looked long and hard at the Christmas tree which would be taken down after the party today. Several handmade ornaments that she and her brothers had made when they were kids hung from the branches. It’d been the best family Christmas they’d had in four years, which was the last time Alex had been home.
She gave her mom a wobbly smile approaching the kitchen through the family room. The island dividing the space was already loaded with food.
Sarah grimaced. “Geez, Mom. How many people did you invite?”
Her mom smiled wryly, with tears in her eyes. “Just about everyone, Sweetheart. God, we’re going to miss you so much.”
“I’ll only be ninety miles away,” Sarah answered rolling her eyes.
“I have a feeling that we won’t be seeing as much of you as we’d like,” her father said, entering the room. He laid his hands over her shoulders and stared searchingly into her eyes. “Just make sure you let us know if you need us, Sarah. It’s not going to be the same here without you.”
“Yeah,” she answered dryly. “You might actually be able to relax for a while, and maybe go out and do a few of the things you enjoy.”
Her father grinned, dropping his hands from her shoulders. “I doubt that. Matt is giving us a bunch of grief.”
“Is he still talking about enlisting?”
Despite their pain, her parents had been proud when Alex had earned a posthumous Purple Heart. But, her father was much more receptive to the idea of her younger brother Matt enlisting than her mother was. Probably because her dad had served in the Air Force himself in Afghanistan, and had done it proudly.
“Yes, he is,” her mother answered worriedly. “I was hoping those flying lessons might deter him from thinking about the Air Force.”
“Mom. You’ll have to accept it,” Sarah answered gently. “He’s eighteen years old—almost nineteen. And don’t forget, at least he understands a little better about what he’s getting into after talking to Alex when he was home here on leave.”
There was a haunted look in her mother’s eyes before she closed them.
The doorbell suddenly rang and her mother’s eyes sprung open.
“I’ll get it,” Sarah said, walking toward the front door. “You keep on doing whatever you’re doing.”
But when Sarah opened the front door, she was instantly wishing she hadn’t been the one to open it.
“Jim,” she said in a monotone, staring at her former fiancé. “What are you doing here?”
But Sarah could easily guess. Jim Fortner was a prosecuting attorney, and Sarah’s father was a presiding judge who’d just been appointed to a special seat. He had a lot of clout in the state as well as in the community.
“I—yuh...heard you were leaving town, so I wanted to say goodbye.”
“Really?” she asked dryly, sweeping her arm through the air, signaling for him to enter.
“Yes, I feel bad about the way we left things,” he answered, walking inside through the doorway.
“Oh?” Yeah, right. He’d hurt her deeply, but she was so over him. A man that couldn’t accept her injuries was someone not worth having. Her father had said it better than she ever could.
But Jim’s rejection when she’d needed him the most had been painful because it proved what she’d always suspected; Jim hadn’t asked her to marry him because he loved her.
It’d been because of her father and who he was, since Jim hoped there was a greater chance to advance in his career.
It’s funny how she could see it so clearly now, she realized as she followed Jim into the family room.
Sarah had been a different person when she’d enlisted, and she and her brother Alex had decided long ago that the Air Force was it for them.
And Jim had known that when they’d begun dating back in high school. They’d split for a while, when Jim had gone on to college and Sarah had enlisted.
But when she’d returned home on leave after a few years, they’d begun dating off and on for another five until Jim had finally popped the question. At twenty-nine, Sarah had decided not to reenlist even though at one time she’d planned to make the Air Force her career. She was offered a job as a pilot at the local airport, for whenever she was ready, so she and Jim had purchased a home so they could be married and settle down.
One more tour overseas; that was all she’d needed to survive.
Well, she’d survived alright, but just barely. When she’d awoken in the hospital in Germany, she’d been told she almost hadn’t made it there because she’d lost so much blood. Her foot had been a mess, it’d been half sawed off and shattered with a mallet by her captors, and she’d been lucky that the surgeon hadn’t removed more of her leg above the ankle when he’d operated.
As for her other injuries from assault? Well, she hadn’t wanted to know how much damage had been done. Eventually, she’d asked, and the answer had been rather horrifying. But thankfully, she could still have kids. There’d been three of them after all, and she’d fought, clawed and struggled against each of them as much as she could until she’d finally passed out from the pain.
No doubt, she would have died if she hadn’t been rescued. Some nights she awoke screaming and some days she would smell something familiar and nearly pass out from the intensity of the nausea that slammed through her senses.
But fifteen months ago, what had devastated her the most was the fact that Jim had been noticeably absent from her life. No visits, no calls. She hadn’t really thought he would travel all the way to Germany, she’d been a real mess those first six months, but when she’d arrived in the states, she’d expected him to make up for it.
Thank God for Joan and Bruce Benton. If her parents hadn’t been so supportive, she wasn’t sure she would have held up through the therapy and rehab, especially after the devastation she’d felt, losing the man she thought she was going to spend the rest of her life with.
Cowardly though, that was the only word she could think of to describe his ending of their relationship. Sarah had received some papers regarding the house; an offer from Jim to buy her out based on the fair market value of the property.
He’d never so much as called or come to see her once she’d returned to Hayward, and their first awkward meeting had come near the bike trail when Sarah felt comfortable enough with her new prosthetic to resume her daily workouts. Jim had been attending a summer concert at the park, and he hadn’t been there alone.
The funny thing about it was, she hadn’t felt anything but relief when she’d finally run into him that first time. Sure, he was good-looking, and in great shape physically, which had been part of the attraction for her to begin with, but Sarah had spent a lot of time trying to think about what it was that had made her think she could be happy with him.
And the answer had kind of surprised her. There’d just never been anyone
else she was interested in. Had she ever truly loved him, she wondered, watching Jim walk up to her father and begin his usual kissing up.
“How are you, Sir?” Jim asked her dad, reaching out to shake his hand.
She knew she was smiling when she heard the doorbell ring and moved through the kitchen to answer the door. Yep, her parents were great, Sarah thought walking toward the entryway while watching her father and Jim through the corner of her eye. She could hear the tone of dismissal in her father’s voice as he answered Jim, saying he was doing well, before turning to talk to Mom without shaking Jim’s hand.
Sarah opened the door and smiled at the woman who was standing outside. “Claire. I’m so glad you made it.”
Although Claire had been through a messy divorce from an abusive husband, the one good thing about returning home, Sarah had thought with relief, was finding that her best friend was also back in town.
Since they’d both been through the wringer, it was difficult thinking about how much their attitudes had changed from when they were younger. They’d thought they were ready to face the world, no matter what was thrown at them.
But what they’d both gone through...
Sarah started singing softly. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger...”
Claire kept singing. “Stand a little taller…”
Sarah continued, “Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone…”
“Geez, I’m going to miss you,” Claire said, rushing inside and wrapping her arms around Sarah. “I’m so glad to finally have the old Sarah back. I don’t remember the last time I heard you belt out Kelly Clarkson.”
“I’d say it’s the perfect song for both of us, right now,” Sarah said dryly. “You’ll just have to come and visit me after I find a place of my own.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” Claire answered, walking beside Sarah into the family room.
Claire paused when she saw Jim. “What’s he doing here?”
“Hell if I know,” Sarah muttered under her breath. “Something must be going on with Dad. Maybe there’s a big case coming up and Jim wants in.”
Claire snorted. “Truthfully? I can’t believe how good you are with all of this. You two were together for years.”
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