Page 7 of Scars of Fate

He laughed so hard the other guards joined him.

“You still believe in heroes.”

“I’ve met a few.”

Lucas.

He flashed into my mind before I could stop him.

Tall.

Stubborn.

Infuriating.

Silver eyes that somehow always saw straight through me.

The man who had spent half his life risking everything for strangers.

The man I’d loved enough to let go because I couldn’t keep asking him to choose between me and the job.

I wondered if he was safe.

Wondered if he’d finally found someone who made him happy.

The thought hurt more than I wanted to admit.

The guard grabbed my notebook from a nearby table.

Months of interviews.

Names.

Photographs.

Evidence.

He flipped through the pages, then tossed it into the burning barrel.

“No!”

I lunged instinctively.

The butt of a rifle slammed into my stomach.

Pain exploded through me.

The concrete floor rushed up to meet me.

Janice hurried forward.

“Leave her alone!”

A soldier shoved her backward.

The room erupted with frightened cries.

The guard watched me struggle to breathe.