, just as I was ab

l that ran twelve hours straight, and the ache from t

h. Something ter

was thin

ght, the ice p

's wrong? Wh

garage by Larson's Brid

closed aro

hurt? I'm

my phone... He trie

e down,

Glock from the safe. My mind race

u can, find a safe spot

hrough, my Ranger training kicking in, focused

oth, her dress torn at the shoulder, face streake

ed small

leg protesting wit

ar

ms, clinging to me,

ke. He said... he s

tremors run through her body.

'm here now.

spot for predators. My own firm had flagged this

u see h

st my chest. "It was dar

tting, she'd been so ex

uck, her arm around m

ut weight on her ankl

ands and the cut on her cheek. She flinc

p seeing his face, even tho

g to let anything bad happen t

her eyes wide, trusti

ve yo

on, it just made my resolve stronger. I would protect her