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Sofia stared at the picture, glancing back at hilad for you I always knew you had it in you, Brandon "

He held her gaze and she had to look away She brought her attention back down at the albues had certificates and awards Then there were pictures of what appeared to be hi weapons and crawling in mud In others, they sat behind trees and rocks like they were hiding "You weren’t in a ere you?"

"No," he laughed,her feel dumb, "but it felt like it That was just boot camp, but they did their best to make us feel like ere in hell"

Fascinated, Sofia continued looking at the pictures She’d been looking at the pictures for a while when she noticed Brandon staring at her Startled, she brought her eyes back at the album "Is this you?" She pointed at a picture of a soldier cli a wall His face was turned away

Brandon put his hand on hers "Yeah, that’sher hand back, iize "I’m sorry"

"Don’t be" She felt so stupid "I just… I don’t knohy--"

Brandon s else?" He stood up

She didn’t All she wanted was to get out of there It was getting a little weird She should’ve never co, and followed him into the hallway

When she realized it was his bedroom, she stopped at the door He went into his closet and pulled out a long briefcase, setting it on the bed He undid the clasps then turned back to her "Co on her pinky nail, Sofia looked around She walked over to get a closer look He worked fast, unzipping the bag It was a rifle, a big one like the ones in the pictures

Her eyes greide "They let you bring that ho how proud he was of that "He surprised ot ho is a If I hadn’t handled one of these as much as I have, I probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference"

Sofia was intrigued Her faun they kept in the restaurant for protection But her brothers had barely let her see it, much less handle it "Can I touch it?"

Brandon seemed pleased she wanted to "Sure" He took it out of the case