page77 (1/2)

If I had thought distance froer would obliterate hi, because even noonder what he’s doing I’m sure he’s excited that, in mere hours, he could be the owner of a championship tea a last-minute pep talk to the team

No h—all I know is I miss hiave o away

?

I glance down at one for almost forty-five minutes, and I’m antsy I know it could be hours before they return, and I also understand they ht not ever come back

Their intelligence shows the hostages are being held in an abandoned homestead about a click away—in civilian terht of the new moon, the darkest time of the month, and was specifically chosen for them to make their move John, Mark, and I sit outside our tent with only our jackets on to ward off the slight chill of the night We all have our electronics powered off, so we are covered by the night pitch as well We’ve kept our talking to ain the lowest of tones if we need to communicate

By eance is deep into the first period of game six, and I intersperse my prayers for the safety of the es with requests to God to let the Vengeance win tonight I try to push thoughts of Do what his face would look like as he skates around the ice, holding the cup high above his head

Fuck, Ihere I should be there forto run away

A crack rings out in the night, a single lone gunshot that shocks me to my core While my eyes have adjusted to the darkness, I can’t see John or Mark’s expressions, but I can sense their bodies going taut

And then… all hell breaks loose Rapid gunfire ensues, short bursts of ten-to-fifteen rounds I can’t tell what direction it’s co from or how far away it is

Then there’s an explosion

A grenade

I know all too hat those sound like