U.S. Marines - Book 4 - Until Surrender E-Book

Romano Arria

• Herausgeber: So Romance
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Serie: U.S. Marines
• Sprache: Französisch

Seitenzahl: 238

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

With Scarlett pregnant, Keir must face the most difficult choice of all: the call of duty or the call of his feelings.

While Scarlett and Keir were enjoying a passionate and fiery relationship, Scarlett accidentally got pregnant. While the news delighted the romantic young woman, it sounded like a prison sentence to her freedom-loving soldier. Keir hastens his return to the front, and that distance separates them for many month. It's just the time they need to take stock of their feelings and prepare to tame each other once again…

Dive into the fourth volume of the sagaU.S. Marinesand find the flamboyant redhead and her military lover, whose future seems more uncertain than ever.

EXCERPT

From the subtle smile she gave him at the end of her sentence, he could tell she found him attractive., Strangely, and the realization disgusted him, as if he were trapped in the body of a priest, immune to all earthly temptations.
It had to be Scarlett’s curse! She had was emasculatinged him with the sheer force of her resentment.
He was lost. Empty. Disgusted with himself and everything around him.
He wanted Scarlett, plain and simple.
She’s too far away, man.
Facing the reporter, Keir forced himself to remain neutral and replied with a nonchalance that wounded her friendly demeanor:
“Sorry, but whoever told you that was mistaken. Try someone else; I’ve got things to do.”
Like thinking about the redhead.
Instinctively, his eyes fell on the small Celtic cross tattooed on his left wrist, a gift from Scarlett.
God, how he missed her...

WHAT THE CRITICS THINK

I really liked these four volumes... Here we see another side of our handsome, scarred hero. - lussailles67, Babelio

This fourth volume is in line with the other three, that is to say, it keeps us on the edge of our seats, the reading goes quickly, and the style simple. You have a good time reading it. - noeline, Booknode


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Arria Romano studies military history at the Sorbonne and is passionate about literature and art. For several years, she has been writing historical novels and romances—whether they take place in the past, the present, or are even shrouded in a veil of magic… as long as love and passion remain the central thread of the story.

Leseprobe

Cover

Title page

Chapter 1

One Month Later

Keir felt as temperamental as a pregnant woman, or so he imagined.

After a brief stint in Iraq, he found himself shipped back to Afghanistan, stationed at FORECON headquarters, where Hudson had joined them earlier that morning. Since their clash at Parris Island, their conversations had been reduced to curt, formal exchanges. It was dreadfully dull.

Keir knew his friend would continue treating him like just another subordinate until he apologized to Scarlett, Hudson’s favorite. He understood it on some level, but he couldn’t stand being the target of his friend’s unyielding coldness.

“How long are you planning to keep giving me the silent treatment?” Keir suddenly blurted, addressing Hudson, who was busy typing an email to Livia.

The sound of the keyboard continued to echo in the major’s quarters, which Hudson now occupied alone, unlike their previous missions when they had shared their captain’s quarters as equals.

Leaning against the doorframe, Keir sighed loudly but didn’t move. Arms crossed over his chest, he kept watching him. It wasn’t until a long minute had passed that Hudson stopped typing and finally raised his piercing eyes to meet Keir’s.

“I don’t associate with jerks like you, Captain Dalglish,” he said with biting sarcasm. “Now, go about your business and leave me alone.”

“Seriously, Rowe? You’re going to pull rank to lecture me? And cut it out with the formalities! We’re brothers, for crying out loud!”

Hudson sighed in turn, weary.

“You should’ve thought twice before messing with Scarlett and then tossing her aside like she was nothing. Honestly, how did you think I’d react? You know I see her as my little sister!”

“I didn’t toss her aside like she was nothing. I always end up being the bad guy, but for the record, she agreed to sleep with me. She wasn’t honest about getting pregnant. That wasn’t part of the plan! I don’t want a kid. End of story.”

“Scarlett didn’t get pregnant on purpose.”

“Then why won’t she get an abortion?”

“Because now that she’s expecting, she wants this baby, even if it’s yours!”

Keir stiffened and straightened his posture.

“This news hit me like a prison sentence, Rowe. You know I never wanted this to happen. She has no right to force this on me!”

“Really? Then why were you sleeping together without protection?”

“She was on the pill.”

“Your past flings were on the pill too, but you never risked unprotected sex with them. Why did you with Scarlett, huh?”

“I don’t know! It just felt natural… and… and I told you, I didn’t think there’d be any risk!”

“There’s always a risk. You were reckless, and it kills you to admit it, that’s all.”

“No, she trapped me.”

“We both know that’s not true. Scarlett isn’t like that, even if she fell in love with you. Head over heels. I don’t know what you did to her, but her love is genuine. She’s pure-hearted, loyal, and romantic. You knew that, and you had to know this could happen.”

Keir muttered a grudging acknowledgment.

“And it pains me to know that. But I guess she was just another fling to you.”

“Don’t talk about things you don’t understand, Rowe!” Keir snapped, stepping into the room uninvited. “Scarlett wasn’t just a fling to me. She means more to me than you think, and I have these conflicting feelings about her… I don’t know where I stand, that’s all! I want to erase her from my life and have her by my side at the same time. She frustrates me and drives me crazy, but I can’t bring myself to hate her completely. I’ve never felt this way about a woman, and it’s throwing me off, do you get that?”

Hudson remained silent, studying him carefully over the top of his laptop. He was seeing a new side of his friend. It was as if a truth was struggling to break free from Keir’s body but couldn’t quite escape.

On reflection, maybe Livia was right: Keir wasn’t entirely immune to love.

Not at all. His tortured expression and the intensity with which he spoke about Scarlett proved otherwise.

Hudson thought he’d seen everything, but apparently life still held a few surprises. Meeting a love-struck Keir Dalglish —who didn’t even realize it yet—was a moment worth noting in the chronicles of his existence.

Nothing was impossible.

“You should reflect and stop running from your feelings, Dalglish,” Hudson finally advised, softening. “It’s time to take life seriously.”

At Beaufort’s civilian hospital, critical emergencies seemed to parade endlessly before Scarlett, Heather, and the medical team managing patient care. A fire had broken out that evening, and firefighters had rushed five victims to the ER: three with third-degree burns, one with a leg injury, and another in severe respiratory distress.

Amid the chaos, Scarlett tried to focus on her duties, ignoring the dizziness and nausea that overtook her whenever adrenaline coursed through her veins.

She was entering her twelfth week of pregnancy, and despite the discomfort her new physical state caused her she remained energetic—perhaps too much so.

As the ER doctors barked orders, Scarlett was preparing two morphine drips when a spell of dizziness seemed to shake her field of vision. The floor swayed beneath her feet, and she had to grab the edge of the treatment table to keep from falling backward.

The smell of blood, burnt flesh, and the sharp tang of antiseptics and medications intensified the turmoil she was fiercely battling.

Carrying her tray of IVs, Scarlett approached the beds where two patients lay when she nearly lost her balance.

“Not now…” she whispered to herself, trying to rally.

A sheen of sweat covered her skin, her nostrils flared in search of clean oxygen, and her muscles tensed. She froze in the middle of the room, hoping to counteract the tumultuous waves of dizziness rolling relentlessly through her body, making her feel like an ocean battered by the whims of a storm.

Pull yourself together!

She couldn’t faint in front of her colleagues and the people who needed her help.

“Scarlett, are you okay?”

Heather’s voice sounded distant, and Scarlett’s muscles gave way as her gaze drifted toward her colleague. The next moment, a whirlpool of heat pulled her into the arms of gravity as darkness engulfed her mind.

This journey into unconsciousness lasted only a few minutes, just long enough for Scarlett to be placed on a hospital bed and hooked up to an IV for hydration.

“Scarlett?”

A man’s voice stretched above her, and a reassuring warmth touched her right shoulder. Scarlett stirred slightly on the mattress, blinking several times.

“Keir?”

The blue eyes she met corrected her mistake. She couldn’t forget: Keir was thousands of miles away from Beaufort, and it was Erik’s face she was looking at. They had crossed paths occasionally in the ER, but each time, the firefighter had avoided all conversation. Scarlett had eventually given up, too exhausted by her pregnancy to try to win back this friend.

Feeling defeated, she had even convinced herself that every man she cared about couldn’t stand the sight of her anymore.

It was all her fault. She was haunted by the thought.

“Erik?”

It had taken her fainting in front of him for Erik to finally agree to be alone with her, in a cramped treatment room where she lay hooked up to an IV stand.

“Erik… I’m so glad you’re here…”

Without warning, tears began to flow, like a child’s, and she cursed her uncontrollable hormonal imbalance.

Compassionately, Erik wiped her tears away with the back of his hand.

“Calm down, sweetheart. You fainted and were out for about fifteen minutes… Heather told me about your pregnancy and explained the situation with Keir… why didn’t you tell me?”

Beneath her loose uniform, it wasn’t easy to notice the slight swell of her belly or the fuller curve of her chest, especially since their brief encounters hadn’t given Erik time to notice them before.

“Because you didn’t want to talk to me when we saw each other here…”

“I’m sorry. I was still hurt. Pride, I guess. I’m tired of pretending nothing ever happened between us. You’re my friend, and I want to make amends, to be part of your life, and to support you through your pregnancy. I think it’s wonderful for you, even if the father deserves a good beating.”

Scarlett was moved by Erik’s kindness and squeezed his hand affectionately.

“So, we’re good?”

“There was never really a war. I regret pulling away like that, but I needed it. I’ve gotten over the jealousy.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have toyed with you or let myself be swayed… I was naive.”

“You’re just in love; I get it. That’s not something you can control. But in the meantime, you can take control of your body and slow down for the baby. Your pace at work is too intense, and it’s not good for either of you, even if you think it’ll help you forget Keir.”

Chapter 2

Two Days Later

“Your baby seems healthy, Scarlett.”

Lying on the medical bed in the gynecologist’s office for her ultrasound, Scarlett smiled with relief as she gazed, wide-eyed, at the clear profile of the fetus on the screen.

“You’re twelve weeks along now, and we can determine the baby’s gender,” the gynecologist continued warmly. “Would you like to know?”

Livia, who had accompanied her cousin to the appointment, spoke first after exchanging a knowing glance with Scarlett:

“No, thank you. We’ve decided to keep it a surprise until our babies are born.”

The gynecologist smiled approvingly at their choice.

“And if you both carry to term, there’s a good chance you’ll give birth around the same time or just a few days apart.”

Scarlett and Livia exchanged hopeful looks.

“That would be amazing!” Scarlett finally said, sitting up on the bed and wiping the ultrasound gel from her belly with a tissue. “We could celebrate their birthdays together, survive their teenage years at the same time, and watch them graduate in the same year…”

Under the gynecologist’s kind gaze, Scarlett listed all the things she could share with her cousin and their babies.

After this medical interlude, the two women met Erik at a tea shop, then dragged him along when it was time for some shopping.

Alternately bewildered and amused by the whims of the two pregnant women, the firefighter followed them obediently through the city’s stores, his arms weighed down with bags overflowing with baby toys and calorie-laden snacks.

In the middle of a boutique specializing in chic, bohemian, and retro baby clothes, Scarlett, Livia, and Erik debated over a layette for a baby whose gender was still unknown.

“Do we really have to assign a color to genders?” Scarlett mused, holding up a candy-pink onesie, her eyes sparkling. “Would it be so shocking if I bought this for a boy? Or, on the flip side, if I got a blue blanket with a sailor’s anchor for a girl?”

“Well…” Erik began, scratching the back of his head, unsure. “It wouldn’t be shocking, just… a bit unconventional.”

“A baby needs colors,” Livia chimed in, holding a wicker basket provided by the saleswomen, already filled with five pairs of tiny booties in the same style but different colors. “Whatever the gender, the baby should radiate joy and life. Whether I have a girl or a boy, I’ll dress them in all the colors, as long as it’s harmonious.”

“Exactly!”

Like a fiery wave, Scarlett darted toward a stunning old-­fashioned baby carriage, reminiscent of the kind drawn by a horse, lined with midnight-blue velvet.

“What a beauty!” she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement, drawing the attention of other shoppers, who were equally captivated by the carriage, but quickly deterred by its hefty price tag.

Livia appeared at her side, scrutinized the pram with an expert eye, noted its brand and price, and, to ensure it wasn’t a knockoff, assessed its quality with her hands before declaring:

“It’s a genuine Silver Cross, imported from England. An excellent brand, absolutely charming. You won’t find anything better.”

Scarlett studied the price tag and squinted at the exorbitant number printed on it.

“That’s for sure… I won’t find anything more expensive either.”

She sighed, a little disappointed, but couldn’t stop admiring the carriage designed for newborn royalty.

“I’ll settle for a functional, modern stroller. After all, babies grow fast; I won’t need something this luxurious for long,” she said, trying to convince herself.

Seeing how much such a gift would brighten her cousin’s days since Keir’s departure, Livia, who could afford a few financial indulgences, waited until Scarlett joined Erik before discreetly calling over a saleswoman.

Fifteen minutes later, as the nurse and her friend waited on the sidewalk, their arms full of shopping bags containing baby clothes and decorative items, Livia emerged from the store, gleefully pushing the carriage, now adorned with a white gift bow.

At the sight of it, Scarlett gasped in surprise and looked at her cousin as if she’d just announced she’d be cycling alongside E.T. that night.

“Merry Christmas in advance, darling. With a pram like this, your baby will be the prince or princess of Beaufort.”

On another continent, Keir was engaged in a shooting drill with his unit. In truth, this military exercise masked a bet he was determined to win. He wanted to prove he was the best marksman in the unit to his comrades.

Dressed in combat gear, with ear protection firmly in place, the scarred captain held his backup weapon, an Italian Beretta M9, and aimed with cold precision at tin cans set thirty meters away on a simple bench. The shots rang out loudly, spaced about a second apart, but their intensity didn’t make him flinch. He controlled his body, mastering his weapon, and dictated the trajectory of his bullets as he pleased. Everything was an extension of his will.

He didn’t miss a single target, swelling with satisfaction as his comrades whistled in admiration.

“Nice shooting!” a woman’s voice called out as he removed his ear protection.

The voice belonged to an unfamiliar woman. Her tone was flattering. Perhaps too much so.

With a smooth motion, he turned on his heels and met a pair of rather charming brown eyes. After a quick visual scan, a regular face with Hispanic features, dark hair, and a slender figure came into focus. She bore a passing resemblance to Eva Mendes, and judging by the badge pinned to her shirt, she was a war reporter. Not bad to look at.

The old Keir might have turned on the charm, hoping to win her over for a secret rendezvous. He had a knack for dealing with adventurous journalists. But today, not even the most beautiful woman in the universe could distract him from the one who haunted his thoughts. A fiery, freckled redhead, provocative and maddening, who, nestled in her cozy home in South Carolina, was growing rounder by the day thanks to him.

In short, Scarlett was under his skin, and the mere thought of her made every other woman seem as insignificant as grains of sand in the desert where his unit was stationed.

“Thanks,” he replied curtly, more interested in his handgun than his interlocutor. “Who are you?”

“Paloma Cruz, reporter for CNN. I’m working on a piece about the daily lives of Marines here, and I’d like to interview soldiers of various ranks. I was told Captain Dalglish might be willing to participate. Are you Captain Dalglish?” she asked, her gaze lingering on the scar that distinguished him from the other blond, muscular men around him.

From the subtle smile she gave him at the end of her sentence, he could tell she found him attractive. Strangely, the realization disgusted him, as if he were trapped in the body of a priest, immune to all earthly temptations.

It had to be Scarlett’s curse! She was emasculating him with the sheer force of her resentment.

He was lost. Empty. Disgusted with himself and everything around him.

He wanted Scarlett, plain and simple.

She’s too far away, man.

Facing the reporter, Keir forced himself to remain neutral and replied with a nonchalance that wounded her friendly demeanor:

“Sorry, but whoever told you that was mistaken. Try someone else; I’ve got things to do.”

Like thinking about the redhead.

Instinctively, his eyes fell on the small Celtic cross tattooed on his left wrist, a gift from Scarlett.

God, how he missed her…

Chapter 3

November 27, 2008, three months later

“You still don’t know if they’re girls or boys?”

So far, Scarlett and Livia had chosen not to find out the sex of their babies, wanting to embrace the old-fashioned experience of being surprised at birth. All the baby clothes and nursery decorations were in neutral colors, suitable for either gender.

The cousins turned their attention to a sprightly septuagenarian with pearl-blue eyes and white hair styled like a starlet from yesteryear. A woman of distinction with a whimsical nature, born Millicent Swanson in Beaufort and later becoming Mimi Cartmell through her marriage to a wealthy Englishman, she was Livia’s grandmother and Scarlett’s great-aunt. She was the link between the two young women and the reason they had met a year and a half earlier.

“No. We want to keep it a surprise until the end,” Scarlett replied, accepting the cup of hot chocolate Erik handed her.

This Thanksgiving, Scarlett had invited her family and friends to dinner at her home, around a large table set up in her eclectic living room. Along with Livia and Mimi, Lex, John, Erik, Heather, and her children were present, while General Arlington was absent for a more significant meeting, and Hudson and Keir were stationed on the front lines.

“We could start taking bets,” Heather joked.

“I can see Scarlett having a girl and Livia having a boy,” Erik immediately chimed in, settling onto the chaise lounge next to the redhead, tenderly placing his hand on her rounded belly.

Scarlett turned her gaze toward him, touched, though deep down she longed for Keir’s hand to be in his place.

Like Livia, she wore an elegant winter tartan dress that beautifully showcased her new silhouette as a mother-to-be.

“I think it’ll be the opposite,” Lex called out from a Moroccan armchair.

“Ladies, would you mind saying something to the camera for our patriots deployed overseas?” John suddenly asked, stepping out of the kitchen and positioning himself in front of them.

Livia, who had been half-slumped against her grandmother’s shoulder, straightened up in her seat, adopted the regal posture of Lady Di, and began:

“Of course, we’d love to! Hudson, this is the second Thanksgiving I’ve spent without you, even though I’m surrounded by wonderful company. Next year, if you let me down again, I’ll have no choice but to follow you wherever your orders take you. Consider that a serious threat.”

Like a mother scolding her child, she raised her index finger in mock reprimand.

“But until then, happy Thanksgiving, my love.”

She punctuated her little speech with a kiss blown to the camera, which then focused on Scarlett, warmly nestled in Erik’s arms as she sipped her steaming cup of chocolate.

“Scarlett, what would you like to add?”

Though her tender embrace with her friend might have been misleading, Scarlett no longer felt any ambiguity about her relationship with the firefighter. Her heart belonged to Keir, sometimes against her better judgment, even though two or three soft, innocent kisses had been exchanged in recent weeks. It was merely a way to deepen their bond, to fill the void of male attention without crossing the boundaries Keir had so boldly overstepped.

Scarlett adored Erik for his friendship, kindness, and shared ideas. But no one could ever replace her infuriating Captain Dalglish.

In her playful feminine mischief, she wanted to toy with her former lover a little, to show him she wasn’t the shattered wreck he likely expected her to be after their abrupt separation. She knew he would see the video alongside Hudson and hoped to provoke him, if not prove that life went on without him.

“I wish a all the Marines a wonderful Thanksgiving. As you can see, Hudson, your wife and I are being pampered by an army of men. We’re indulging all our pregnant cravings with soldiers of steely resolve.”

“I can vouch for that. Their food cravings are something else… mangoes with fish sauce, curry tagliatelle, white rice seasoned with saffron and served with deviled eggs, fried frog legs… and the list goes on!” John chimed in from off-camera. “You and Dalglish are missing out on their culinary creativity and their mood swings.”

The young women shared a knowing laugh.

“The fried frog legs are mine. Livia nearly gags every time she sees one,” Scarlett added. “We miss you, Hudson. And don’t forget to tell your scarred friend not to give in to any reckless heroics. I know how impulsive and foolish he can be.”

The jab was aimed squarely at Keir. With a smile in his voice, John replied near the camera:

“We agreed not to settle scores through the video message.”

“It’s just a warning.”

The other guests added their own messages, and the young women concluded with kisses directly to the camera, leaving it smudged with red lipstick marks, adding a humorous touch to the little film.

“Unbelievable! Did you see how she’s curled up against him?”

Hudson had just shown the video of their loved ones to Keir and nearly chuckled at his friend’s flushed face. It wasn’t like Keir to lose his temper over something so trivial, especially since he had avoided talking about Scarlett or his feelings up until now.

“What does it matter to you? You’re not together.”

“She’s carrying my child, and she’s cozying up to that firefighter! She might as well sit on his lap while she’s at it!”

“You’re jealous, aren’t you? I thought you encouraged her after him.”

“People can change their minds, can’t they?”

“You’ve been so contradictory lately.”

Keir sank deeper into the hammock where they were lying under the stars, right in the heart of the American military base.

“And on top of that, she’s provoking me. I swear, she deserves a slap when she plays these games.”

“You brought this on yourself.”

“If I find out they’re sleeping together, I think I’ll lose my mind… tell me, do you know anything about that?”

“Knowing Scarlett and her principles, she wouldn’t sleep with a man after the first four months of pregnancy, especially if he’s not the father of the child she’s carrying. She’d find it so inappropriate, and I have to say I agree.”

Keir could also pride himself on knowing his former lover’s personality and was rock-solid in the knowledge she wouldn’t take a lover in her current situation. He was also aware of the love she still held for him, but he feared she might seek revenge. Nothing was stopping Scarlett from having a fling with her first beau or, worse, seeing him as a substitute husband and father for their unborn child.

Indeed, Scarlett was capable of stripping him of all responsibility for their child and herself if she committed to another man. Erik was the perfect candidate to play the role of the chivalrous knight, pure-hearted and magnanimous, in stark contrast to Keir’s own cowardice.

She could erase him for this guy.

A pressure cooker seemed to whistle in place of his brain.

Damn it!

He had messed up by losing his temper, scared by the unfamiliarity of a situation he had never been prepared for. Now, he had to dig deep within himself and confront his true desires.

Beyond the overwhelming responsibilities of being a man and a father, he had to admit the powerful feelings he still harbored for this enchanting redhead. For three months, he had tried to erase her from his life, prayed for amnesia, but it was a futile battle.

Every time, he came back to the same primal conclusion: Scarlett and the baby were his.

“If you want peace, prepare for love,” Hudson commented after a long silence, having replayed the video several times just to admire his wife.

“Isn’t it ‘prepare for war’?”

“Yes, but I changed the saying around for you. You need to find peace, to break the chains you’ve wrapped around your own heart. You need to let your sensitivity shine through, erase the bad memories of your parents, forget your brother’s sacrifice, and live your own love story. Believe me, you’re more sensitive than you want to admit. And if you want to be happy, you need to stop scorning life’s foundations: love, family, humility, and honesty. Face the truth, look deep inside yourself, and prepare for love. There’s nothing more comforting than knowing there’s always a lighthouse guiding you on the horizon and a harbor waiting to welcome you after a long time wandering. Livia is my harbor, my lighthouse, and my compass. Now that I know that, I don’t think I could live without her. And the baby on the way will be our miracle. Our reason for being, the purpose we’ll fight for every day, every night. The greatest gift life can give us is having a family that loves us.”

“Wow! Since marrying Livia, you’ve turned into a Greek philosopher.”

Behind his apparent mockery, Hudson knew his friend was simply trying to mask his unease.

Sarcasm was his main armor.

“I’m serious, Dalglish.”

“I know…” he finally admitted. “Just give me time to prepare for love. It’s not easy. Let me remind you, you were a wreck before marrying the love of your life.”

“It’s the moment of transformation that’s the hardest to handle. You don’t recognize yourself anymore. But after that, everything feels so natural and obvious. If I could do it, so can you. A Marine has the mental strength to pull it off, no matter how stubborn he is.”

Chapter 4

Afghanistan, February 14, 2009

Dressed in a black shalwar kameez for men, crafted in the purest Afghan tradition, and wearing a brown wool pakol, Keir wandered incognito through the Bamiyan Valley, renowned in the archaeological world for once housing three monumental Buddha statues carved into sandstone cliffs before their destruction by the Taliban in 2001. The remnants of Buddhist monks’ cells still dotted the cliff walls, bearing witness to the pious and humble lives of these men of ages past.

“Can you believe it, Dalglish? These Buddhas stood for fifteen centuries before being obliterated. They witnessed the destruction of Bamiyan by Genghis Khan’s Mongols eight hundred years ago, saw the Russian troops arrive in the ‘80s, and then were reduced to dust by a small group of renegade terrorists. Bastards.”

Keir shot a glance at Hudson, who was also dressed like an Afghan to avoid suspicion. With his tanned skin, striking jade-green eyes, jet-black hair, and the beard he’d been growing for their infiltration mission, his friend blended seamlessly with the locals of this region. He just had to keep quiet to mask his incurable cowboy accent.

They were here primarily to follow up on a lead; terrorists had been detected in the area. The sector was tightly secured by the military, especially since the site had been a UNESCO World Heritage site for five years.

“Those sons of bitches love to destroy the beauty in the world. They’re killing their own history.”

As they roamed the area in their borrowed attire, which concealed bulletproof vests and sophisticated weapons, the two companions took the opportunity to admire the site’s splendor. Especially Hudson, whose passion for ancient ruins and archaeology had only grown since marrying Livia. As a dedicated university professor, she encouraged him in this pursuit and dreamed of seeing him return to school to fulfill his personal ambition: becoming an archaeologist.

“The area seems calm today,” Hudson noted.

“Doesn’t mean we can let our guard down. The lieutenant colonel wouldn’t be thrilled to see his major and captain vanish like those Buddhas under machine gun fire. You shouldn’t have come with me, Rowe. I could’ve had one of my men assist me.”