Free Tactical Strike by Kaylea Cross Page A

her eardrums.
    When Maya finally saw her she yanked the earbuds out of her
ears, her eyes widening in shock. “What the hell are you doing out here?”
    “Yeah, hello to you too.” Her voice barely held the hint of a
wheeze, which made her proud.
    A grin broke over her friend’s astonished face as she ran an
approving gaze over her. “Check you out. Does this mean I’ve found a new running
partner?”
    “Ha, no, I’m not into the whole self-punishment thing. Just
needed to get out and do something.”
    “Babe, we’ve gotta do something about your insomnia. If you’re
out here running at this time of the morning, it’s worse than I thought.”
    Yeah, except this time she couldn’t sleep for a happier reason.
“Nah, I’m good. If this doesn’t tire me out, what will?”
    “Those flowers didn’t give you any ideas?” Maya raised her dark
brows in a teasing, suggestive reply.
    An instant image of Ryan naked and waiting in her bunk made her
laugh. “Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen.”
    “Hey, you asked.” She lifted her other foot and rested it on
the chain link to stretch her other hamstrings. “You done, or do you want to run
some more?”
    “Nah, I’m done.” The cold-induced earache and tight lungs
reminded her why she hated running in the first place. Still, she felt better
knowing she’d done it. “You?”
    “Just waiting for my little friend to get here. She always
comes first thing on Friday mornings while everyone sets up the tents and stalls
for the market.”
    Several stalls were already up and ready for business, and more
people were trailing into view on the main road leading to the base, past the
security checkpoints. Candace had never been to the market before, since she was
usually sleeping at this time of the morning. “Want me to wait with you?”
    “Sure, if you want,” Maya said with a shrug.
    A few minutes later a lone silhouette walked past the market
area and headed toward them.
    Maya waved off the Security Forces personnel stationed near the
perimeter fence. They looked so young. “It’s okay, she’s with me.”
    They stood down, while the figure navigated around the tangle
of razor wire to a gate at the outer perimeter.
    A group of Humvees passed by the person without stopping,
probably on their way to help with the checkpoint farther up the road.
    Soon enough, Candace realized it was a young girl. “That
her?”
    “Yep. Fila.”
    Fila gave a shy wave when she got close enough. A deep blue
scarf covered her head and flowed down to her waist over her worn wool coat. She
couldn’t have been more than twelve, maybe thirteen.
    “ Salam alekum ,” Maya called, and the girl answered in
kind.
    Fila’s wide brown eyes regarded Candace with curiosity as she
came up and passed something through the fence to Maya.
    In exchange, Maya handed her a few American dollars and a pack
of gum. “Thank you.”
    “Wel-come,” the girl answered with a heavy accent and a
grin.
    She and Maya exchanged a few words in Dari, the language common
to the people that lived in the area surrounding Bagram. After a minute Fila
raised a hand in farewell and turned back to the road, while Maya and Candace
kept watch. The kid looked so alone. God knew how many miles she’d traveled here
and how many more she’d cover on the way back to her village.
    “Doesn’t she have anyone to escort her?” Candace asked, a
little worried. The base perimeter was secure enough most of the time, but not
always. There was still unexploded ordinance, landmines in the surrounding area.
The security checkpoints only helped keep everything safe to a point. Venturing
outside the safety of the base perimeter was like entering the Wild West. Step
outside the wire and your life was at risk, military and civilians alike. Let
alone an unprotected young girl.
    “Yeah, but they’re farther behind with the wagon,” Maya
answered. She pointed into the distance. “There they come. The old man there
with the young