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Prologue

Operation Desert Eagle

Baghdad, Iraq

Now…

Enjoying a rare, tranquildesert, Vincent Moreno stared out into the hazy sunset Across his chest he was holding the gun that was now just asheart under his U S Arun to wander to the usual hts were interrupted by his partner Will’s whispers directed to all of them

“Y’all ever wonder what you’d be doing back home if you weren’t here?”

Vince shrugged still staring at the sunset He let the other guys respond Most said the very thing he was thinking, “Always”

Will straightened out fro I’et back home is ask Missy Anne to marryto ask her in a letter or even on the phone, but that’s not hoanna do it”

Will and Vince had gone through boot cah Vince had been a tough one to get through to, soh Vince’s hard shell and befriend hiether Will was now, not only the only person Vince had opened up to here, but after everything they’d gone through just this past year alone, Will was now quite possibly the closestabout this cheery southern boy had grown on hi, and that alone could jolt Vince’s out of his miserable moods at least for a while

The one thing Will couldn’t stop talking about and went on and on the h it was painful to hear about his happy relationship and how his girl was happily waiting for him back home, Vince couldn’t help but shter than when he spoke of his girl It brought back oofy smile on Vince’s own face

Curiously Vince finally broke his stare with the nearly gone sunset “How you gonna ask her?”

Will stood up, and Vince glanced around cautiously then laughed when he saw Will’s stupid overly serious expression Will held one hand over his weapon, which also lay across his chest, then held out his other “You only ask the love of your life once, so it’s gotta be extra special I’onna ask her in front of the whole town Get down on ht there in the middle of town square”

He got down on his knees directly in front of Vince to deered “I’onna say,” he lifted his hand up at Vince, “Missy Anne, will you—”

The gunfire came out of nowhere, and in the next second they were all sprawled out on the floor firing back in the direction the shots had co with painful cries froht gone, it was hard to tell ho in the darkness But one thing was for sure: Will wasn’t running with hi these attacks They usually stayed close—had each other’s backs But Vince didn’t see him anywhere; he hadn’t since that first shot