Chapter Sixteen-Madden

Ansley's nerves spiked when I pulled into a gas station outside of town, and filled up my truck. I pretended not to notice the way she glanced in the review mirror or slightly over her shoulder on the way over.

She had every reason to be freaked out. Seeing someone get killed wasn't for the weak of heart. I'd never forget the first time I saw someone die overseas. The fear in his eyes as his life slipped away from him. The blood leaking from his chest after the shot, it ran dark and into the gravely sand beneath him. It haunted me for weeks after that, until it became so normal that it wasn't a surprise to see the light fade away, and all you could do was pray it didn't happen to you.

When I slid back into the driver's seat with a couple Coke's and chicken strips from the store, Ansley didn't budge. I started the engine, and glanced over at her.

"Hungry?"

She turned to face me, underneath her pretty eyes were swollen from crying, and I knew nothing I could say would wash away those