Page 55 of Holding the Line

Epilogue

The Ridge was quiet.

Too quiet, if you asked Hogan.The stars were out, pinpricks of cold light scattered across the vast dark sky.He stood at the far edge of the compound, leaning against a weathered fence, the wood rough against his forearms.A cigarette glowed faintly between his fingers, the ember flaring each time he inhaled.He needed to quit.Knew it.Swore he would.Just not tonight.

He only had a couple when the stress gnawed through his ribs like a starving rat, and tonight it was chewing deep.

Kai.

The bastard had disappeared.After everything.After getting Eli back, after helping kill the Colonel—after betraying them all first.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

Hogan glanced down.

Unknown Number.

He declined the call and shoved the phone back into his pocket.

It buzzed again.

This time, the screen didn’t say Unknown.

It said ANSWER YOUR DAMN PHONE.

He frowned, thumb hesitating over the green icon.Then he swiped to connect.

“Yeah?”

“You always were stubborn.”

Hogan went still.That voice.Rougher than usual.

“Kai.”

“In the flesh.Sort of.”

Hogan’s jaw clenched.“You son of a bitch.”

Kai huffed a sound that could have been a laugh.“Missed you, too.”