Page 26 of Bullets and Dandelions

“Apology accepted.”

Chapter Seven

The Huey’s seats were narrow and uncomfortable. To make things worse, I was squashed between Stone and Tex. My eyelids drooped as I struggled to stay awake. That surge of adrenaline was long gone, and I was so damned tired.

“Wake up Tinkerbell,” Stone said in my ear.

I mumbled, “Tired.”

“We just landed in Kuwait, and we’ll get you something to eat.”

Food? My eyes popped open, and to my horror, I was leaning against Sergeant Stone’s shoulder. Shit! I shot to my feet. “Sorry, sir, I didn’t mean to touch you.”

Stone gave me an evil grin. “Do you know you snore?”

“Do not.”

“Yeah, you do,” Tex said.

That’s when I noticed the gleam of amusement in Rodriquez’s eye. “Har. Har. Point me toward the mess hall and I’ll get out of your hair.”

Stone shook his head. “Not a chance. Consider yourself part of my team.”

“But I’m Army.” I grabbed my duffel bag and slung Bertha over my shoulder.

“We all work for Uncle Sam.”

Okay, that was true, but they didn’t know how dangerous my father was. “If you hang around me very long, you’re gonna end up dead.”

“We are the Alpha Dogs, and we never run from a fight,” Johnson stated.

“Yeah, I know. You’re swift, silent and deadly, but so is my father.”

“Don’t leave my side,” Stone commanded.

“But…”

Stone leaned down until his nose touched mine. “That’s an order, soldier.”

“Yes, sir.” I followed him off the Huey. As much as I hated to admit it, if I wanted to survive, I needed their help.

A big, barrel-chested Marine with all sorts of medals on his chest waited for us.

We all saluted him.

“At ease.” His gaze locked on me. “Introduce me.”

“General Masters, this is private Tess Reynolds, an Army sniper,” Sergeant Stone said.

The General’s bushy eyebrows rose. “Sniper?”

“Yes, sir,” Sergeant Stone replied.

“Any good?”

Stone nodded. “She can outshoot me.”

“Is that true, private?”

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