Page 51 of Bullets and Dandelions

The sergeant snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Start talking.”

“I’ve parachuted from 5,000 feet twelve times. My first HALO jump was from 15,000 feet.”

“Were you jumping into combat situations?”

“Just the HALO. My father was sent to terminate Abu Islamiyah on the Philippine Island of Siargao, and he brought me along for backup.”

“And?”

I gave him my Debbie Sunshine smile. “I didn’t land in a tree. I didn’t break a leg, and my father terminated his target.” I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him I had landed in a bog, and it had taken Pops an hour to pull me out.

“How old were you?”

I winced. He just had to ask. “Fourteen,” I mumbled.

“Fourteen! Are you kidding me?”

“Nope.”

Tex butted in, “The question should be: Have you done a HALO jump since then?”

“No, just skydiving for fun.”

Stone rubbed the back of his neck. “When I finally meet your father, I’m going to beat the living hell out of him.”

“That’s not a good idea. My father fights dirty.”

“So do I.” He stomped into the hanger.

Tex caught my arm. “I’ll go over all the safety protocols with you.”

“Thanks.”

Chapter Twelve

Dread knotted my stomach as the Cessna Caravan rose into the air. General Masters had called an hour ago to inform us King Saraki’s cargo jet had been hit by a surface-to-air missile twelve nautical miles from New Zealand’s South Island. There were no survivors.

If Eric Roberts was responsible, were we walking into a trap? Probably, but the guys didn’t seem concerned. All that testosterone made them think they were invincible, and they pretty much were.

Kamous was adamant a rival warlord was to blame. Hmm. Like him? Had Kamous somehow managed to plant a bomb on the King’s jet? Maybe.

Me? I was sure my father had something to do with it. Why? Heisa CIA assassin. My father certainly hadn’t done it to protect his only child. Nope. My guess was Saraki had crossed him and that was always a death sentence. Pops had to maintain his reputation.

Jeb’s calm voice sounded in my helmet’s earphones. “Prepare to jump.”

Stone slid open the door and the wind buffeted us.

“I hate skydiving,” Kamous grumbled.

I fastened my chin strap. “It’s pure freedom.”

“You are as crazy as they are,” Kamous shot back.

“Nah, I’ve got them beat.”

Rodriquez checked my oxygen bottle again, turned it on, and gave me the thumbs up.

I pulled my mask into place. My squad was becoming the family I never had. I would die for them.

---