The color drained from Cole’s face.
Across the room, Derek’s smile faded.
Claire had never heard that name before.
But she could tell from Cole’s expression that it belonged to a part of his life he had spent years trying to bury.
And whatever Raymond knew about Daniel Reeves, it had reached Cole more deeply than any punch Derek had thrown.
— WHAT HAPPENED IN FALLUJAH
Cole stood slowly.
“Where did you hear that name?”
Raymond glanced at the people still gathered around the mat.
“Not here.”
Cole looked at his injured knee, then at the door.
“Give me a minute.”
He took a seat in the small office beside the training area. Raymond followed and closed the door behind them.
For several seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Raymond said, “My older brother served with Daniel during an earlier rotation. He used to tell me stories about him. Years later, I heard about the patrol outside Fallujah. The names were never completely clear, but I remembered Reeves.”
