Page 73 of Scar

The man rose slowly, his hands raised to show that he was not armed. Naked as the day he was born, Arik reached for his robe that was hanging on a wall peg next to his nightstand. “You need to look at it from our side, Solo. Things are different now, new leadership, new policies. We were trying to weed out a mole. Intelligence knew there was a leak. For months, they planted the idea of a new, dangerous weapon. Something that would change the course of the war, something even more devastating than nuclear warfare.

“The package we gave your team, Solo…” The man wiped a shaky hand down his unkempt face and Julian absentmindedly noticed the Commander’s haggard appearance. “Fuck. The whole thing was a set up. It was fake. To catch the leak. And it fucking worked too. We found the men responsible, but… We knew about the ambush. Intelligence decided to keep up the ruse, so they could use the possibility of such a weapon again. Make it look as real as possible.

“They didn’t know the local cell was so vast. When we learned where the ambush had taken place and just how many terrorists there had been… Fuck, son, I saw it on their faces. The CIA had no idea.”

It truly was a testament to just how black Julian’s soul was when he found his former Commander’s tale almost funny. If he could laugh, he would have. The entire thing was fake, a ruse. The fucking package that he’d protected, that hisbrothers had diedprotecting, hadn’t even been fucking real.

It had all been for nothing. He hadn’t been protecting anything, hadn’t been saving anyone. And the years that followed, everything he’d done for Alpha… What had been the point? He thought he’d killed all those responsible.

He hadn’t even come close.

“Are you going to kill me now?”

Hedaredto ask Julian that question? When Patriot, Lamb Chop, St. Nick, Sparkles, Farmboy, Cajun, and—fuck—Little Tyke haddiedfor his lies?

Julian walked forward slowly.

The Commander backed away. “Wait! Please! Solo, I was your friend—Iamyour friend. I tried… I helped you in Germany, remember? I helped you get back on your feet!” He’d helped Julian to assuage his own guilt. Nothing more. “I hunted for you. I hunted for all of you. I swear, I didn’t rest until I found you.”

But it wasn’t fast enough! Seventeen minutes! Time came crashing down on him, acknowledging its presence for the first time in years. Seventeen fucking minutes! If the Commander had arrived seventeen fucking minutes earlier, Little Tyke would still bealive! He wouldn’t have jumped!

And the Commander dared to live on? Tomoveon? To bury the truth as easily as he’d buried Julian’s brothers?

Patriot.

Lamb Chop.

St. Nick.

Sparkles.

Farmboy.

Cajun.

Little Tyke.

Julian stalked forward, not an ounce of remorse for the man he’d once respected and obeyed without question.

* * *

José trackedhim down months later in a seedy bar in Texas. Julian might hate the fucking state, would never again call it home, but it wasn’t like he had anywhere else to go. Drifter, wanderer, a living corpse.

Reaper.

He was sure this time. Sure he’d gotten them all. But now there was…nothing. No reason for tomorrow.

He was so fucking tired. How the mighty had fallen, drowning his sorrows in liquor and blood. When he found the underground fights, it had been an outlet, but also a chance to feel something. To punish himself for not seeing the truth sooner. For believing the lie.

Seeing José again, it didn’t make him feel nostalgic for what was or even for what could have been. If anything, it made him feel lower. Lower than low. Because José still looked at him like he was worthy of…something.

If only he knew just howunworthyJulian truly was.

“Good to see you too, brother. I’m out. Did my ten and now I’m looking to start something new. A Marine I know is starting a motorcycle club. He’s looking for officers and wanted to know if I knew of anyone who’d make a good Enforcer. I thought of you.”

* * *

PRESENT DAY

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