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A loud bang jolted Kinsley awake from a deep sleep She sat up in Rhett’s queen-size bed, with a dark gray duvet over her, and glanced right, finding the clock on the nightstand that read 4:22 Darkness encased her, telling her she should still be sleeping Another loud grunt sounded again, and she shoved the covers off, hurrying out of bed Just as she reached the open door, Rhett’s yell froze her in place “Run!”

Her heart leapt up into her throat, the sleepiness gone from her eyes, as she scanned the area quickly for a possible threat

Rhett’s sharp intake of breath jerked her attention to the couch, where he suddenly sat up Moonlight shone in through the , detailing the hard lines of his body wound tight, sweat glistening off tense h his hair

Not wanting to htmare, Kinsley slowly backed up until she cliainst her pillow, sure he couldn’t see her through the darkness, and watched Rhett rise, scrubbing his face Even from where she lay, he looked visibly shaken The sound of his voice o cold She’d never heard that tone fro, just an order that was meant to save lives

That was the soldier

The man she didn’t know

The bed felt cold, the sheets impossibly wrinkly and suddenly uncoo on With bated breath, she waited, and waited, and waited for hiht Ten hts went through her ain andevery warm bit in her soul The door was ajar, and she pushed it fully open, finding the small room full of steam “Rhett,” she said softly

Nothing No response

The all-glass shoas completely clouded “Rhett,” she said louder “Are you okay?”

Still nothing

Shelike a lifetiht in front of her Rhett sat against the wall, ar on his knees, hands threaded in his hair Desperate to get closer, she went straight in, cotton nightgown and all, and knelt next to hi her touch over the rough skin of the bullet wound there that had ended his h the water raining down on them arm “Rhett,” she said softly

He finally lifted his head, dropping it back against the tiled wall, and his gaze …his pain…his truth…his horror at the things he’d seen, and she threw her arardless of whether he wanted it or not She didn’t count the minutes she held him, but she relished when he dropped his head into her neck and inhaled deeply He didn’t touch her, not until his treht

Tears welled behind her closed eyes She didn’t even want to think about what he saw in those nightmares She pulled back from his embrace and met his dark eyes “Bad dream?”

He nodded

Pulled in by this hidden force between them, she cupped his face “What can I do to help?”