Free Tactical Strike by Kaylea Cross Page B

boy.”
    Candace could barely pick them out.
    Fila walked up to a group of people setting up a stall near the
middle of the makeshift market. More villagers came into view on the road in the
distance, some on foot and some with donkeys and wagons, all laden with wares
for the day’s sales. Wherever they’d traveled from, it must have been a long,
tiresome journey in the hopes of selling a few items to the soldiers at Bagram.
Most of these people struggled to make enough to feed their families, and the
winter promised to be bitterly cold. Candace hated to think of Fila trudging
back to her village in nothing but that tattered coat and open-toed sandals, or
that she might not have enough to eat.
    She checked in her pocket and found some money tucked inside.
“You know, being that you’re not really a good sharer, I could sure use some of
that chai tea you hooked me on.”
    Maya quirked a sardonic brow. “That right?”
    “Yeah. Tea’s good for me, right?”
    “Yeah, pretty good. As long as you use low fat milk and go easy
on the sugar.”
    Food Nazi . Chuckling, she folded her arms around her
waist and gazed at the girl’s retreating figure. Looked to Candace like she
could use a few high-calorie meals. Surely they could get some chocolate bars
for Fila and her family. “Maybe I could use some jewelry too. A necklace or
something.”
    “Huh. And maybe some leather goods?”
    “Why not?” Whatever they could roll up tight enough to pass
through the chain-link fence was fine with her.
    Grinning, Maya put two fingers in her mouth and gave a shrill
whistle. People nearby looked over at her but she ignored them all, waving her
arm over her head and calling Fila back. Then she winked at Candace. “You’re
such a softie, Ace.”
    “I know. But don’t tell anyone.”
    “Hell, no. Especially that annoying CCT.” Her eyes were too
knowing. “Better that he doesn’t know, actually. If he found out he’d chew you
up inside of five seconds.”
    Probably. Well, her heart, anyway. She fought not to roll her
eyes at her friend’s sarcastic tone. “Yet you think I should do him.” She gave
Maya a teasing nudge.
    Maya’s eyes widened in feigned innocence. “I said that? I would never say that, let alone suggest such a
thing.”
    “Oh, please. Just get your friend back over here so I can do my
good deed and then head back for my shower. I’m freezing my ass off out he—”
    A shrill scream ripped through the air. Candace and Maya
whirled around. Fila had thrown herself to the ground and covered her head with
her arms. Candace immediately crouched with Maya and scanned the area for
threats. Then she saw what had frightened the girl so badly and her skin crawled
with hot and cold prickles.
    A group of men ran toward the fence, faces covered, weapons
drawn and slung at waist level. Big automatic rifles, like AKs. She’d barely had
time for that to register in her numbed brain when the Security Forces guys
started yelling warnings. Someone fired a warning shot. Maya was shouting at
Fila, waving her arms wildly to get her to flee to somewhere safe.
    On instinct, Candace grabbed Maya around the waist and yanked
her to the ground. They hit with a thud just as the shooting started. Maya
shoved away from her. Candace pressed flat to the gravel with her arms braced
over her head as the shots whizzed overhead. Amidst the screams from the women
and children in the market she could hear soldiers yelling behind them, then
feet pounding past her before someone returned fire. The sharp cracks were so
close they made her flinch.
    The attackers kept coming. She could hear them screaming as
they charged the fence. There was nowhere for her to go, nothing she could do.
Eyes squeezed shut, she stayed as still as possible beside Maya and held her
breath, heart pounding. She’d seen five men racing toward them, but there might
be others. Were there other attacks happening at more points along the
perimeter?
    The volume of fire escalated