Uh-oh. Wrong answer. The man stood up. Spit. Then he kicked Ranger in the gut, possibly breaking a couple ribs, and definitely sending home the message that yes, Ranger’s days as a SEAL, as a man who protected the people he loved, were over.

THREE

Call it Colt’s gut, but something just didn’t feel right.

And it had nothing to do with the usual nightmares, the images that found him, dogged him from the pockets where he’d tried to tuck them.

Nightmares during which one of his teammates—Elvis, or maybe Vader—came back from the dead to haunt him. But really, it could be any of his team, but especially any four of the ghosts.

No, he lived with the familiar ache, deep in his soul, was used to waking in a sweat, reliving the smells of the savanna, the tinny scent of blood, the shouts and gunfire and taste of betrayal.

This was different. A general sense of doom that had found his bones since Tae’s confession last night.

And it didn’t help that his brother had hit all of it home with his ominous, “Which means that Sky King Ranch is in the crosshairs.”

Maybe. Maybe not. But those words itched at him all night—a very short night—until Colt had finally woken, staring at the bright orange of his tent, the sun already burning away the ice and snow.

And that’s when he saw that Dodge had already risen. Already packed up his sleeping bag. Colt had climbed out of his bag, shoved it into his stuff sack, and opened the zipper.

Dodge crouched in front of a stone circle, stirring to life a small campfire. He looked rough. He always grew out his whiskers darker and thicker than anyone, although Colt nearly had him beat with a week or so of scruff. Still, Dodge wore a tight set to his jaw and when he glanced at Colt, gave a shake of his head.

Ah. Colt interpreted that as, Yes, I tried to call the ranch, and no, I didn’t get ahold of anyone, and by the way, put a little hurry into your let’s go.

Colt had answered with a nod. I’m worried too. Then went to wake the girls.

He was headed toward their tent when he heard Tae’s shout. Heard Echo’s attempts to wake her. His gut tightened even more. Now, at least, her nightmares made sense.

Somewhere deep inside, she was still fighting for her life in that plane. He got that, more than he wanted to admit.

Deep in his subconscious, he was still waging war with a boy soldier named Ahmed, trying to wheedle the truth from him.

Seemed like he couldn’t escape people who lied to him.