Something distant and familiar.
The old man’s eyes widened.
“Damon Mercer?”
My stomach tightened.
Very few people in Cedar Falls knew the full story of my military service.
Even fewer would have recognized me without a uniform.
I slowly released Blake and stood.
Blake rolled away, coughing and holding his shoulder.
The veteran stepped closer.
And when he spoke again, I recognized his voice before I fully recognized his face.
“Chief?”
He gave a small, disbelieving laugh.
“Lord Almighty.”
I stared at the elderly man approaching the mat.
After twenty
years, the past I’d worked so hard to leave behind had finally caught up with me.
