Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
I shook my head, sharing disgusted looks with the others. I couldn’t begin to wrap my mind around how people could be so cruel to others, especially innocents.
Brianna placed her hands on the table, leaning closer to the three men. She said something to them that I couldn’t translate, but it had to be something motivating because the men’s faces hardened as they gave her firm nods. She whipped back around.
“They’re going to show you on the map where they believe some of Dimitrik’s men have been hiding out. There are small camps around the city. They also have some ideas of where other hostages can be, but their numbers have been dwindling. They’ll need help,” Brianna said. “Andric knows enough English to point out the locations. I just… I need some air for a moment. I’m sorry.”
David looked over at me, jerking his head in Brianna’s direction.
I nodded and placed my hand on Brianna’s back, leading her out of the tent and closer to the exit so that she could feel at least a little bit of a breeze from outside.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
Brianna breathed in deeply before sighing.
“What they told me… it’s awful. I just gave you guys an overview,” she said, her eyes looking haunted. “Sometimes, they’re sent pictures of their captured loved ones chained up and hurt. Or their houses will be burned down. Everything is being ripped away from them.”
I rubbed her back gently to comfort her, feeling her lean closer to me.
“We’re going to help them. We’ll get them out of this hell, and the city will be theirs,” I promised her.
Brianna nodded.
“Good. They deserve it. All they want is a safe, peaceful place to raise their families,” she said as she looked up at me. “What all people want.”
“My parents emigrated from Pakistan to the United States for a better life and more opportunities,” I told her, seeing her eyebrows subtly raise in interest. My past and upbringing was complicated, but I doubted that I would get any judgement from her as I had gotten from others because of my ethnicity.
Some people were cruel toward cultures that they just didn’t understand.
“Now you’re a brave soldier,” Brianna said with a warm expression. “I’m sure they’re really proud of you.”
“They’d be prouder if I was married with children. They always wanted that traditional life for me,” I replied with a faint chuckle. My laugh was a bit forced, though. I faced a lot of pressure on that front to abide by the beliefs and expectations of my family.
“My parents are the same way,” Brianna said, her shoulder brushing mine as we stood close to each other. “But our lives are only our own. We just have to do our best to be happy.”
I smiled at her thoughtful words and nodded in agreement, enjoying her way of thinking. I knew that she was nervous about a lot of things regarding this mission, but when it was showtime, she was remarkably collected and professional. I admired that.
“You and David seem happy,” I commented. They sounded very happy the other night, which kept me awake for another hour because I was so restless. I couldn’t help but feel jealous of David too, as wrong as that was.
“We are. Things are changing, but I think it’ll be a good thing,” Brianna replied, sounding hopeful.
I was happy to hear that. She was a good person, and I respected David through and through. He provided all of us with a non-judgemental, loyal family that we wouldn’t find anywhere else.
“Well, in the meantime, I’ll keep you safe,” I assured her.
Brianna’s face softened.
“Thank you,” she said before straightening up. “We should go back. I want to help them as much as I can.”
She was a hell of a woman. I was indifferent to her coming along in the beginning, but like the others, I was incredibly glad that she came along now. Not only was she helpful, but she was also great company. All I had to do was behave myself, but that was easier said than done.
Chapter 10
Erick
Boots were on the ground early this morning. Right after the sun’s ascension in the orange-streaked, light-blue sky, a noise sounded from the laptop in Bowie’s and Elijah’s room. We all knew what that sound meant.
“Was that a new message? Or was I dreaming that?” Emmett asked as we hurriedly got dressed, already hearing some of the other guys rushing past our room to get to the laptop.
“You weren’t dreaming,” I said, tugging on a black t-shirt before heading out of our room. I heard Emmett’s heavy footsteps behind me, voices spilling from our brother’s shared room down the hallway.
“What does it say, Brianna?” Mo’s voice drifted from the room.
“Hold on. Let me grab my notebook from my room and make sure I’m reading this right,” Brianna replied.