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I wanted to call her out for being so naïve, but held my tongue in front of the strangers.

Our escorts resumed arguing amongst themselves as we bounced around in the backseat. Outside, the unforgiving Afghanistan landscape stretched into the horizon.

Coming back to the war-torn country was stupid in so many ways, but if we wanted any chance of a future together, it was necessary.

* * *

At the outskirts of Samangan, the so-called escort specialists dropped us off and zoomed away, leaving a cloud of dust rising in their wake.

“Fucking assholes,” Rose said, wiping off her baggy white blouse and jeans.

“I’m sorry. It’s the best I could get on such short notice. We’re here now. Let’s find out what this old man claims to know.”

“Thanks for supporting me with this,” she said.

“Why wouldn’t I? It’s you and me. We’re in this for the long haul.”

“I’d kiss you, but my lips are full of sand and dirt.”

I smiled, squeezing her arm briefly. “Let’s do this.”

We walked side-by-side into the city which had only begun to awaken. Everyone who saw us stared. I gripped Rose’s hand tightly, increasing our pace.

At the center of the city, we arrived at the market, already bustling with vendors setting up shop and locals arriving for early bird specials and the freshest produce.

“It’s this way,” she said, leading me toward the left side of the plaza. She stopped a few stalls down.

We both peered inside, seeing nothing.

“Where is he?” she muttered.

I had already turned to glance around the plaza.

“What the hell?” she said.

“I told you it was a trap.” I scanned the crowd, which was steadily increasing in size. “There…”

Rose’s gaze followed my finger as I pointed across the market. “Isn’t that Melvin?”

“Yeah. I should’ve known he was behind this,” I said through clenched teeth.

“What are we going to do?” she asked, holding onto my arm.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get us out here.”

“I’m sorry, Warren…”

“It’s not your fault,” I reassured her. “But you need to keep it together now, okay?”

She nodded.

“Let’s go this way,” I said, taking her hand.

We only made it a few steps before two Afghan men with AK-47’s stepped out from an alley and pointed their weapons at us. I pushed Rose to the side, sliding in front of her in case they shot.

I stared into their eyes, knowing they were hardened mercenaries and didn’t give a fuck about anything, let alone me or Rose.

Think fast, I told myself, weighing all our options.