Or me for that matter.
Cursing under my breath, I leaned over and gathered her into my arms, taking long strides toward the only real bedroom. As I positioned her onto the bed, tugging the blanket up and tucking it around her, I listened to the way the wind had kicked up even more than before. While the mountains of Montana certainly had their share of snowstorms, it was late in the season.
That usually meant the storm was going to be worse.
I’d likely have to contend with her for several days.
Fucking fantastic.
When I moved back into the living room, easing onto the sofa, I thought about what I wanted to do the rest of my life. The sad thing was I honestly had no idea. My work with counterintelligence wasn’t going to snag me a job in Montana. Even my weaponry training had limited possibilities. I certainly wasn’t going to be a damn rancher like my father or his father before him. I’d seen him work himself to the bone while barely making ends meet. Fuck that shit.
At least he’d made some money after selling the ranch, or so I’d heard from my brother the doctor who’d abandoned Montana a decade before. I hadn’t talked to my family since my return either. I wasn’t entirely certain anyone who used to know me had an interest in what I had to say.
Not after what I’d done.
Not after what we’d all done.
I poured another shot of liquor, finally ready to face at least a few of the memories. I had to or I was never coming down this damn mountain.
Pop! Pop!
Fuck me. I knew the damn lying sack of shit informant was going to get us killed. I swung my weapon as I raced toward the others, getting off several rounds. I didn’t have to bother watching as the assholes fell. I knew I’d made several direct hits. I shifted toward them, still taking long strides backwards until I was near the helicopter, the thumping blades a welcome sound.
“Watch out!” Hawk bellowed as he dragged Vader toward the helicopter. “We have to get the fuck out of here!”
Scorpion yanked my arm, hissing as he yelled over the roar of the engine. “Get the fuck on the bird.”
Like hell I was. Not until every man who’d come on this mission could do so safely. A sudden blast of dirt and sand caught me directly in the eyes. I bent over, coughing as I covered my mouth and nose. The sound of rapid gunfire seemed to be coming from every direction. The damn assholes had already surrounded us. This had been a setup after all. I hunkered down as the dust cleared, prepared to fire again.
“Go. Go!” I yelled at the others as they raced toward the helicopter. We had to get the hell out of here or we’d be sitting ducks.
Several of the other men of the expeditionary unit jumped inside the bird, Vader refusing to let go of Hawk’s arm. Even from where I stood, I could see blood seeping from Vader’s arm. He’d been shot. We were all going to fucking die out here. Rage swept through me, the kind that yanked at my ability to follow Hawk’s orders. Who the hell did he think he was, putting us in this position?
I rushed forward again, getting off several additional shots as I made my way toward Mustang, searching the area for Snake. “Where the hell is Snake?” My question went unheard, the noise from gunfire as well as the whisking blades drowning out everything.
“Cover my back!” Scorpion yelled to me.
“Get back here!” Hawk yelled.
“We need to get on the chopper!” Mustang added.
“We can’t leave him out there!” Vader exclaimed, gasping for breath, following behind Scorpion.
Snake. Jesus Christ. Where the hell was the asshole going? He knew better.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The damn insurgents were getting closer, the shots pinging off the helicopter.
“Get the fuck inside.” Hawk pushed Vader into Mustang’s arms, giving him a hard glare. “Get him on board.”
“Where the fuck you going?” Mustang hissed. “We need to get the hell out of here.”
“I’m not leaving without Snake,” Scorpion called.
He tried to shift closer to the door, but Mustang yanked him back, barking at him directly, “There’s nothing we can do right now. We will come back for him.”
“All for one and one for all, remember? We do not leave a man down!” Scorpion insisted, trying to jerk free from his hold.
“Then we’ll all fucking die!” Mustang snapped.
I searched the smoke-filled area, only to feel Hawk’s hand snagging my arm.
“I don’t think we can save him,” Hawk said, his voice sounding a million miles away.
Visions popped into my mind, a paralyzing feeling taking over. Through the haze, I noticed three of the fucking enemy soldiers attempting to slide around the backside, another single insurgent heading toward Snake. I swung my head toward the direction where Snake had gone, forced to make a choice. Everything suddenly seemed to move into slow motion. I could make both shots. All I had to do was concentrate.
I let off a spray of bullets, riddling the enemy soldiers with several. By the time I turned my head, Snake was nowhere to be seen. But I heard the single popping sound, and Snake’s agonizing cry. Jesus. Fucking Christ.
“Get over here, now!” Hawk yelled again, this time his voice sounding as if in a vacuum.
I backed away, my instinct of survival kicking in.
“Come on, buddy. You know the drill. We have to get back.” Vader’s voice rang out over the rest.
As Hawk roared, a spray of bullets hitting the hull, my instinct told me that we were out of time.
“Snake!” I bellowed.
I felt a hand snagging me, yanking me backward. “Let go of me.”
“No, buddy. That’s not going to happen,” Vader huffed. “You can’t save him. You tried.”
“Snake.”
Fuck!
I jerked onto my feet,
