“About three months ago.” The general paused. “I’d talked to him several times and he never said a word.”

“He didn’t say anything to me two months ago when we were coordinating our leave,” Sarah said. “Or rather, I was coordinating mine. Because he was already back in the States? I thought he was just a couple of hours away from me.”

The general swallowed. Looked at Sarah. His mouth worked.

Sarah’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “No. Don’t say it.”

Gavin braced himself. He’d seen that look on too many heartbroken parents’ faces. Part of him wanted to leave, probably should leave, but leaving in the midst of their raw grief seemed wrong. Worse than staying and being unable to do a blasted thing to help ease the pain.

So, he stayed. And let his heart break with theirs.

CHAPTER
FIVE

The general rubbed his eyes, an unusually human gesture for him, and Sarah steeled herself, because he wore the same expression he’d had when they’d buried her mother fifteen years ago.

“Rochelle . . .”

“I said don’t say it.”

The general’s gaze didn’t waver this time. “Dustin was released from the hospital three days ago. He went back to the hospital for a check-in appointment but never made it to the psychiatrist’s office. Instead, he went to the roof of the building—”

“Stop,” she whispered. “Please stop.”

“—and he jumped. He’s dead.”

She held the tears inside, refused to let them fall, but the heart that had been anguished and livid by her father’s dictatorial actions now shattered. “Why?” she choked.

“I don’t know. No one does right now.”

“Get out,” she whispered. “Just . . . go away.”

He hesitated. “Rochelle—”

“Get out!” The shout echoed through the room.

Gavin shifted, reminding her that he was there, and shame burned a scorching path up her spine and into her cheeks. “Both of you, please. Go. Leave me alone.”

“Our flight leaves in two hours,” the general said. “Be ready.” He left and didn’t look back.

Gavin did. She turned her gaze from his, holding her body rigid. Finally, Gavin stepped back and shut the door.

Her mind reeled with so many things to consider, but all she could think about was Dustin. So . . . she would go home just in time to bury her brother, then find the strength to fight her father and the diagnosis, get reinstated, and get back to Afghanistan.