12 Chapter 12

Smooth skin untouched by the sun, sensitive to his touch, and oh, what a lovely taste that groin had, Rory thought.

Bond didn’t withdraw his hand. He shook his head. “He was six years a SEAL, twenty-nine, married, two kids. I was watching his back when we walked into the goddamned ambush. Someone leaked our retreat path, and suddenly all hell broke loose with Taliban firing from every direction.

“I saw a sniper on a building set his sights on Derek and yelled, ‘Down! On your six!’” I killed that sniping son of hell, but not before he got Derek with his automatic.”

“Was Derek already gone when you boarded?”

“No, he died in flight. I’d tossed him over my left shoulder so I could fire with my right, while the last two of my men covered us. The sight of your Chinook waiting beyond the pickup time will stay with me the rest of my life. It sparked hope he’d survive, but it wasn’t meant to be.”