He was still on his knees.
Then one of the older trainers walked toward me.
He stared at my face for several seconds.
Then his eyes dropped to my knee.
“You’re Cole Mercer.”
I froze.
The trainer swallowed.
“I knew a man with that name once.”
Derek looked confused.
“What are you talking about?”
The trainer looked at him.
“You don’t know who you just challenged.”
I didn’t say anything.
But Claire did.
“Who is he?”
The trainer looked at her.
Then at me.
And quietly said:
“Ask him what happened in Fallujah.”
The room went completely silent.
PART FOUR — THE MAN I BURIED
Claire followed me outside.
“Cole!”
I kept walking.
“Cole, wait!”
I stopped.
She caught up to me.
“What did he mean?”
I turned around.
“You never asked.”
“Asked what?”
“About my knee.”
“You told me it was an old injury.”
“It was.”
“What happened?”
I looked at her.
“I was deployed.”
She stared.
“I knew you were in the military.”
“You knew I served.”
“I didn’t know…”
“You never asked.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
I wasn’t angry.
That surprised her.
Maybe it surprised me too.
“I didn’t tell you everything because I wanted a normal life.”
