Leave Me Behind

In the dust of Patagonia, a masked soldier called Bones watches his second die.

In the dust of Patagonia, a masked soldier called Bones watches his second die. Abrahm's chest gapes with a wound that shouldn't exist—the bullet punched through his vest at a grade far beyond the hostile squad's weaponry. Riøt Squad was supposed to meet them at the checkpoint. They never came. As Abrahm's eyes dim, Bradshaw does the one thing no one on the dark forces is permitted to do: he removes his mask, revealing the face no squadmate has ever seen, and whispers his real name. Abrahm dies with a sigh that sounds like relief. And in the silence that follows, vengeance roots itself into the hollow of Bradshaw's chest, where it will grow for two long years.

A one-night stand becomes a career-ending revelation at dawn

On a flight to Coronado, Nell Gallows—sole survivor of the destroyed Riøt Squad—trips over a cold-eyed stranger's boots and lands against his chest. His twin, Eren, charms her into drinks. That night at a club, the scarred twin, Bradshaw, watches her dance with predatory stillness before claiming her on the floor. Eren encourages them to leave together. At her hotel, Bradshaw consumes her with a ferocity that leaves her breathless—no names, no questions, just dominance. Afterward, he stays. They eat at a diner, trade fragments of themselves—orphans, military, unafraid of each other. Then he notices her bullet scar, presses about her work, and recognition detonates between them. She's the recruit being assigned to his squad. He's dark forces. They part in silent horror.

Malum Squad gives their new Riøt recruit a degrading welcome

Nell arrives at base to discover Eren is Malum's sergeant and Bradshaw is Bones—the masked assassin she's meant to serve as second. The squad assigns her the humiliating codename Bunny and openly campaigns to bully her into quitting. Jefferson mocks her dead squadmates. Pete warns her that Bones collects teeth. Bradshaw slams her against a cinderblock wall, demanding she leave—but cups the back of her skull so it doesn't crack on the cement. She fires back about his own dead second, Abrahm, and the barb cuts deep enough to make his eyes flash with horror before fury returns. Eren announces a month-long field training in the Rocky Mountains. If Nell can't bond with the team, she's finished. She boards the helicopter clutching her rifle—the only thing that's ever earned her belonging.

Bradshaw pins Nell at night and carves a crescent into her ribs During night watch, Bradshaw lures Nell into the dark woods with a false alarm. Jefferson covers her mouth while Pete holds her ankles. Bradshaw straddles her, slices away her shirt and sports bra…