“Stop hitting every damn pothole! I’m trying to write a letter, and with every bump, I have to start over again,” Wolfe grumbles and braces his hand on the roof as the vehicle bounces.

“Well, why don’t you wait until we get back to camp to write her? I don’t know what you expect me to do about it. Sprout wings on this baby and fly over them? The terrain here is awful even for a military jeep.”

“Hey, the wing thing might work.” He flips me the bird and looks down at the letter he’s gripping. “I’ll put it away for now. I’m just anxious. I’ve gone my entire life and never knew I had a twin sister. How could my asshole of a father keep it from me?”

I take my eyes off the dirt road to look at him. “Your father barely knew his own name most days. From what you’ve told me, he was a nonfunctional alcoholic.”

“Evidently he was a liar too. He told me my mom died when I was two, and that’s when we moved from the Indian reservation in Utah.” A deep sadness fills his voice.

“I still can’t believe you’re half Indian. With your blond hair and blue eyes, I’d guess Norwegian. No wonder your dad moved you out of there.” I chuckle. “That blond hair of yours had to stick out like a sore thumb.”

“From the picture I found at my dad’s house after he died, my sister looks like she got all the Indian traits. We had to look kind of odd as twins – one blond, blue-eyed baby, the other with black hair matching her dark eyes.”

“I bet she’s a knockout.” I whistle.

“You and your junk over there will never find out.” He points at my crotch.

“Why not? She might like my junk,” I say with a chuckle vibrating through me. I love Wolfe like a brother, and our banter has gotten us through many dark days.

“I swear, Keegan, sometimes you’re an asshole and the others…well, you’re still just an asshole.” The bulging vein in his neck means he’s getting all worked up.

I reach over to his side and push his shoulder. “I’m only kidding with you, Wolfe. You know the Bro Code.” I cut him slack because I can tell he’s feeling antsy by the way he keeps rubbing the back of his neck. “Do you think she even knows about you?”

“I have no idea, but I’m betting she doesn’t.” He folds the letter he started and shoves it in the glove box.

“What about your mom?”

“The letter the attorney sent out was sent back saying she died several years ago.”

“That’s rough, man. No wonder you want to get in touch with your sister so badly. You don’t have anyone.” We hit another bump, causing us to bounce hard in our seats.

“Keep that up, Keegan, and we’re going to have to put our helmets on,” he says, bracing the top of his head with his hand.

“According to my GPS”—I tap it with my finger—“we only have another mile or so to go.”

“Yeah, well remind me never to let you drive again.” He chuckles.

I see a tank pull out from behind a dune up in front of us. “Shit. We have company and not friendly ones.”

“Head to the other side of that dune, so we aren’t sitting ducks here in broad daylight.” He points to the left.

I make a sharp turn, and the sand hangs in the air so thick I can hardly see. I hear a loud boom followed by blinding light. I hold on tight to the wheel as we go midair and the jeep starts to spin before it hits the ground hard, rolling us several times. I can taste the burning fumes engulf my lungs, bringing on a coughing fit. A mixture of tears and blood drip into my eyes, blurring my vision. I can’t see, but I can tell by the blood rushing to my head, we landed upside down.

“Wolfe, are you okay?” I reach out to feel for him next to me. His warm blood is covering his face and seeping through his shirt. I hear a gurgling noise coming from him. I try to unbuckle, but it won’t come unlatched. “Don’t you fucking die on me!”

Foreign voices are getting closer. I reach for my knife that’s anchored to my leg. Unsnapping the case, I yank it out as an enemy soldier peers inside with a gun pointed at me. I strike out with the knife, but he moves out of the way, barely missing my blade slicing into his face. I put the knife between me and the seat belt, cutting through the thick band, freeing myself. My body crumples over the steering wheel. Before I can get up, the soldier has me by the boots and is yanking me from the jeep. I throw my arms up to block the blow from the butt of his gun, but everything goes black.