Pushing Up Daisies by Melanie Thompson Read Free Book Online Page B

with tiny chips beneath their skin for ease in locating them after exactly a crash like this.
    â€œThey won’t send a bird out until after dark,” she said. “We need to lay up until then anyway. It’s too frigging hot to travel.”
    â€œYou two get going. I have to take care of the helicopter.”
    â€œWhat?” Sarah said.
    â€œPolicy, we blow any wrecked birds. House will take care of it.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œWe never leave anything for the enemy. Who knows what they could use this for…propaganda photos, parts for their own equipment, anything. So we destroy it.”
    Sarah waited a good distance away. When the bird went up, House loped into view. “You guys ready?”
    Daisy and Sarah nodded. “We’re good,” Daisy said. “Let’s hit it.”
    House grunted as he shouldered one pack. Daisy hefted the second and they started out. Daisy kept her M-4 across her arms. House wore two pistols on his belt and a huge K-Bar in a sheath built into his body armor. They were as ready as they could be.
    â€œDo I get a gun?” Sarah asked. “I can shoot. My father taught me.”
    House dived into his pack and emerged with another pistol belt, this one with a Walther PPS in the holster. He wrapped it around her waist and cinched it tightly. She was very slender. Ten inches of belt strap dangled. He whipped his K-Bar out and sliced the end off with one swipe.
    She expertly ejected the clip, checked it was full and slapped it back into the pistol. “What’s this tape on the handle for?”
    â€œIt’s grip tape. Helps you hold onto it if it gets slippery.”
    â€œFor sweat?”
    â€œNope, blood.”
    She shuddered delicately. “Well then, okay, thanks.”
    Being this close to her, he smelled her fear, dried sweat, and a subtle coconut and floral scent. As a werewolf, all his senses were heightened. She stirred something inside him. Her bravery in the face of danger was admirable. She stood in front of him in a torn dress and sandals, her shoulders back, her mouth quivering with a half-smile.
    â€œThis was all my fault,” she said with a sigh. “I don’t know how I can live with it. You lost your men because of me. That poor blond guy and the black man.” Tears filled her eyes and spilled over. “How can I live with this?”
    He patted her awkwardly. “You have to. No choice. We all have something on our backs. Don’t make their sacrifice in vain. Live and move on. Don’t let the bad guys win.”
    She sucked in a long breath. “I won’t.”

Chapter 6
    Sarah’s heart was weighed down with guilt. All those men had died trying to save her. Where were Freidrick and Coop? If they’d died, it was her fault. How could she live with this and go on? Her head drooped as she walked; the guilt a weight pushing her down.
    They hiked for thirty minutes over rough ground. It was tough in her sandals. They were stout, but designed for beach and walking on concrete. They crossed two dry riverbeds. Daisy held her arm and helped her down the steep sides. House marched ahead, setting a hard pace. He constantly scanned the sky, sometimes turning to gaze into the distance behind them.
    â€œThe Somalis won’t come across the border, will they?” Daisy asked.
    â€œI don’t think Al Shebab recognizes borders,” he growled.
    They found the cave. It was little more than a hole in a red, rock face about seven feet high. The hole opened under a small ledge about two feet off the ground. They had to duck to enter. Sarah took one look behind and couldn’t see the smoking ruins of the wrecked helicopter. She gratefully dived into the shade offered by the cave.
    Inside, Daisy pulled a plastic mat out of one of the packs and spread it out in a corner. “Sit on this,” she said to Sarah.
    Sarah allowed Daisy to help her drop to the floor of the cave. Her gaze met