Chapter 32: The Gathering Storm

I turned to walk away, my head spinning, only to find the entire squad standing behind me. Thorne, Jax, Stitch, Miller—they were all there. They had been listening through the thin plywood walls.

Thorne stepped forward. He looked at me, his gaze lingering on the white patches of my face that I no longer bothered to hide. Then he looked at the door of the TOC.

"Reassigned?" Thorne whispered, his jaw tightening. "After what she did on the ridge? He’s going to ship her off like she’s broken equipment?"

"He can't do that," Stitch said, his voice unusually high and frantic. "She’s our Ghost. She’s the reason Shepard’s alive. She’s the reason you're alive, Thorne."

Thorne didn't respond to Stitch. He looked at Jax and Miller. A silent conversation passed between the three NCOs—the kind of look that only men who have bled together can share.

"Viper," Thorne called out as the Platoon Sergeant approached. "You going to let this happen?"

Viper looked at the men, then at me. He adjusted his cap, his eyes hard. "Major Sterling has the rank. But he doesn't have the mountain. Follow me."