Cross My Heart

Prologue

NOAH

T he red haze of the sun blinds me as I look over into the distance, trying to make out the outline of what looks to be vehicles speeding toward us. I shield my eyes by cupping a hand over my brows to better understand what is quickly approaching.

A convoy.

An enemy convoy.

“Michaels!” I shout, but in his haste to reach me, he steps on something he shouldn’t and suddenly he’s airborne. “Jeremiah!”

The blast hurls us all through the air, and when I hit the ground, my ears begin to ring. I get up slowly, on my hands and knees, and feel unsteady getting to my feet. I look back out into the distance to see the vehicles approaching even faster. Bullets connect with the tank behind me. I sprint over to Jeremiah and drag him to safety, right behind our vehicle. His leg has been blown off, and he’s screaming, the sound piercing my ears until my hands begin to shake. I put my M4 rifle on the dirt next to me and reach over to assess the extent of the damage.

There’s blood everywhere, soaking into his combat uniform and pooling under me and onto my clothing. I can hear my squad engaging with the enemy, and now it’s a symphony of rounds as they connect with metal, casings raining down on us. Even though I’m supposed to be able to deal with this situation—it’s what I’m fucking trained for—my vision blurs as tears spring to my eyes. He’s my best friend. The one who’s been here for me through thick and thin. Through every single deployment.

Not him.

Not him.

Reaching for my bag, I pull out a tourniquet and get to work quickly. His whimpers fill my ears, and my hands tremble violently as I finish tying it above his knee and pick up my rifle. I scoot him under the vehicle slightly as I begin to receive fire, but somehow, a bullet ricochets and lands right between his eyes. I stare at him, stunned, and when the next bullet hits me in the chest, I gasp in pain. I’m protected by my fighting load carrier vest, thankfully, but when the next round lands against my helmet, my vision begins to blur at the edges from the hit to my head. Right as I’m fighting against the edge of unconsciousness, I feel my cheek meet the dirt. Footsteps crunch on the dirt road, and I watch as body after body drops.

My friends.

All of them.

Dropping like flies.

Another shot rings off, but this one connects with flesh, my flesh. I cry out in pain as the left side of my chest feels like it’s on fire, and this time, when the darkness tries to envelop me, I don’t fight it.

I hear myself gurgle.

I feel my breath stall.

But all I see is him.

Brown, curly hair, softly blowing in the wind. Full lips, a beautiful smile. The waves lapping at his feet as he dances around with the backdrop of the sunset behind him. And with his arm outstretched toward me, his waiting fingers spreading wide as my hand connects with his…

T y.

Tyler.

I love you, Ty.

Fuck, I love you.

I think I mumble it as my eyes close, but as the feeling of someone dragging me pulls me out of slumber, I panic.

Moving my body, I fight against the hands that keep pulling me through dirt and blood, rocks digging into my back and cutting me. I scream as I feel where the bullet must have come out getting scraped, and the man drops me. We briefly make eye contact before he rears his arm back and punches me in the face.

Once.

Twice.

And then as I feel the blood rushing out of my body, as I bleed out on fucking enemy soil, all I see is his face. And as I leave this plane of existence, I hear his voice in my ears.

Promise you’ll wait for me.

Cross my heart.