Unfaded Glory by Sara Arden

able to keep his anger leashed.
    â€œThey did. So we will give them something new to believe in. Something new to hope for. This isn’t a girl rebelling against her parents. This is a woman running from a brutal man who’d hurt her, who traffics in people, drugs and arms. And she fell in love with the man who saved her. We’re going to give the world a hero, Hawkins. And that’s you.”
    Every word was a bullet of higher caliber than the last. “You know why it can’t be me.”
    â€œUganda doesn’t matter now. For your sake and for hers, you have to put it behind you. Because this is already done. We need that base in Castallegna. What part of
national security
did you miss?”
    â€œNational security doesn’t mean it has to be me.”
    â€œYes, it does. Kulokav is alive. Your cover is blown. Your picture has been all over the world news networks for the last six hours. There is no one who doesn’t know your face. Your work as an operative is done. Do this job and you’ll be set for life. Pension, benefits, hazard pay...whatever you want.”
    Then what would he do with himself? Byron felt as if his whole life, as piss-poor as it was, had just been jerked out from under him.
    â€œYou don’t know what you’ve done.” With no way to channel his aggression, the dark beast that seemed to live inside him, he didn’t know what he would do.
    â€œWhat I had to.” Renner nodded. “Get back on the plane. Go to Glory. I’ve made arrangements for you there. I’ll be in touch.”
    Byron wanted to roar, to rage, but instead he stood, frozen.
    Damara moved her hand on his shoulder, and he jerked away from her. Being near her just made it worse.
    He had no outlet for his desire or the need for destruction that filled him. Byron felt as if his skin was nothing more than an organic casing for rage that could erupt at any time.

CHAPTER SIX
    T HEY HAD TO PLAY at being in love, and he couldn’t even stand to touch her.
    Damara knew he was angry. Angry at Renner, angry at whatever had happened to him in Uganda, but he was angry at her, as well.
    She probably deserved it because she could have complained more loudly, more vociferously. After all, their plan couldn’t work without her compliance. But after further consideration, she knew Renner was right. This was the best way.
    She remembered the story of the princess and the marine. She’d watched the movie, and, at first, she’d been so grateful she had a father who would let her marry whoever she loved. After his death, she’d thought about how nice it would be to have someone save her from Abele.
    Even though Byron had saved her in a sense, her purpose was to save her people. This wasn’t about some fantasy. Even though she’d played it that way in her head just a little bit.
    They were going to be trapped together on the plane for another three hours. She didn’t want to spend it in brooding silence or pretending to read books she didn’t care about.
    â€œIf I find a way out of this, will you take it?” His voice startled her.
    Maybe she did want to spend it in silence, after all. “I don’t see any other way, but yes. If you find a reasonable way out of this that will still protect my people, I will take it.”
    â€œI’m trying to protect
you.
”
    â€œDon’t worry about me. I already told you, you’re not responsible for me. I’m responsible for myself.”
    â€œIf you don’t need me to be responsible for you, then why am I here?”
    â€œBecause you’re bigger, stronger and you might be faster. Oh, and you have more guns. But I’m not helpless, Byron. And, frankly, it’s offensive that you think I am. Needing help doesn’t mean I’m helpless.”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œBut you did.” She watched his expression. “You do. Every time you say that something is