Between Love And Obsession

st Africa -

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mething had gone awry, you could taste it in the back of your throat. Hidden by denial a

ag. No

discussed in inebriated whispers over half-empty

hind a rusted shipping container. Her breath stayed calm, the rifle an extension of her hands. Every muscle tuned t

dlights in the open field. But within that building made of corrugated metal? The stakes were hig

ason she w

omms, threaded with American

inger to her earpiece. "Visual. Three sentries

pa

ot the as

ve fool

huc

French you are wh

smile-but i

eration-technically civilian, though the man moved like someone who'd killed without apology. He

ted him i

m more than s

inutes," he sa

from the earth itself as the blackness to her left peeled back like old paint. Dust clung reverently to him. His swagger was so s

iate. Too shiny, too clean. Nevertheless, the ba

roded pipe like a purposeful shadow. Then the signal came-two silent, crisp fin

A beati

ught to his lips by

ezed the

f

pped before

turned-t

f

do

sound-just a flash of motion. Elbow. Knee. Blade. Th

n-q

xhaled.

is good?" he a

someone's

li

sho

d the buildi

d old blood. In the far cell, the prisoner huddled in chains-half-starved, but alive

when it

mmed open

nf

y spun, took the shot. One bullet. Clean kill. B

ot the way soldiers looked at teammates. But like he'd just se

" she

ding the prisoner. "Remind

lready

lips. "Good. Make

d the dust settled, they ended up back at the safeho

d touched hers, and she didn't pull aw

ething that a

on't last in

sca