Chapter 8
kain poured down in sheets, hannering against the metal roof of the temporary base in the Middle East. After leaving Adrian, Stella had traveled alone to join the peacekeeping mission. Everything here was foreign, but she’d never been afraid. Maybe staying by his side all this time had been the real punishment.]]
Stella sined at the back of the formation, her dark blue peacekeeping uniform soaked through and clinging to her body. She gripped the badge number on her shoulder, her knuckles white from the pressure, was her brother’s number
p and down, smirking at her slight frame. “Peacekeeping ain’t summer camp, sweetheart. Try not to
You’re the newble?” A burly guy v with a scruffy beard leaked her up
The other soldiers laughed along, their eyes full of contempt. ||
stella kept her mouth shut, adjusting her pack she was the only woman in the entire wit and in a place where everyone risked their lives to keep the peace and save others, only proving herself would earn their repert.]
“Cut her some slack. Her brother was Mike Sullivan.” A deep male voice suddenly came from behaul them []
The lighter died instantly. Because here, everyone knew Mike Sullivan ||
Stella turned around to see a tall man leaning against an Armored vehicle. He were the peacekeeping uniform with sleeves rolled up to his elbows revealing several nasty scars on his arms. Bain dripped from his jawline, but his dark eyes were calm as a midnight ocean.
Stell thought he looked fandiar–she’d seen this man is her brothers photos, their arms sung around each other’s shoulders, grinning like they owned the world. She recognized him now. This was her brother’s old buddy, the peacekeeping us captain–Lucas Reed ||
Lucas ward over, poitinning himself between her and the group, his voice steady but . “Anyone’s got beef with her can settle it with me first.
This time, nobody said a warni
Seeing everyow stay quiet, be grabbed her pack and headed deeper into the camp: “Come on
Lucas’s quarters were eater than she’d expected.
Stella stood in the doorway, rainwater dripping from her hair and pooling on the floor
She Sell ackord: “Capism Reed.
“Just Lucas is fine.” He tossed her a dry towel and polled out a clean set of fatigue from his locker. “Change into these.”
The dietaves were obviously men’s sleeves way too long. Stella had to roll them up several times to free her wrists, catching a faint scent of snap: []||
in
In the mirror, she wore the same type of combat gear her brother once had, standing on the same ground he’d walked. Her throat tightened ||
Sensing her pause, Lucas suddenly spake up, pointing to the bottom burk by the window. That was your brother’s rack. You can crash there tonight–bunk with the guys outside“]]
Stella’s head mapped up following his gesture, she saw the bed made with military precision, even half a pack of cigarettes still sing on the nightstand. Like the owner had past stepped out and would be back any mine.[]
“I clean it every week, keep his stuff excily how he left it. Goss it’s just hab. Lurar’s tone was fast, like he was talking about the weather
Thunder rumbled outdeas Stella’s tears finally fell
Wasthing her cry quietly, her shoulders alusking with restrained sobs, Lucas let out a soft sigh. He didn’t say anything, just found a clean towel and gendy placed it over her head, covering her face, then stepped outside and closed the door, leaving her the space to grieve.
Three days later, Lucas took her to hide outside the camp. This was where his unit had dug a small grave to honor her brother’s memory.
I sat down on the slope with Stella and pulled out a leather journal freus his jacket
Your brother’s stuff.”
Stella’s fingers trembled
quietly took ||
Opening in the first page, she save her brother’s familar messy handwriting ||
Stella nailed her first sable today. Hand wasn’t quite high enough, list dann, her eyes were bright, Mom, Dad. I swear Tun gonna make sure she’s the happiest kid alive I
This late nutcase says she wants to be a peacekeeper too. Girl’s completely out at No way as hell I’m letting her anywhere near this mea. I just want her safe and happy back home.[
Estella, it’s been way too long since I’ve seen you. I probably won’t make it to your wedding, wont be there for the long haul. Sorry, kiddo.[]
ading her brother’s words, the bit down hard on her lip as tears blurred her vision, drops falling and bleeding the ink across the page
“He never shut up about you, kept saying his baby sister was the most stubben lite shit he’d ever met” Lucas stared out at the horizon, wind and sand cutting across his jaw, a small smile breaking through. “Thought he was just bring dramatic. Now I get i
Stella clutched the journal to her chest, sobbing like a kid. |
Lucas just sat there with her, something raw flickering in his eyes as the wind carried memories of his lost brother–in–arms[]
