In a not too distant future, the island of Manhattan has been commandeered by rebels aided by terrorists who have set themselves against the U.S. government. The Brooklyn Bridge, now fallen into disuse, stands as a sort of "no-man's land" between the island and the military that patrol the Hudson River. When the rebels bomb the Bridge, the nation is plunged into what might become a second Civil War.<br><br>Captain Jace Rickert is a grounded pilot whose Army lover, Second Lieutenant Tomas Tait, is sent on a routine reconnaissance mission. When Tait disappears and the military can’t stop the impending war to find one missing soldier, Rickert takes matters into his own hands.

War Torn

laughter splits the night. Glad someone finds this amusing. I look


up to see the faint glow of a barrel fire. Suddenly I realize how


weary I am, how every inch of me burns or stings or hurts, and I


just want to curl up on the ground and die. But I can’t—Tomas needs


me. So I stagger to my feet and approach the barrel.


people huddled together, two men and a woman bent over the barrel


for warmth and light. The woman is light-skinned with light hair


that curls around her face and down her back in a ragged ponytail,


her large almond eyes taking me in. One of the men wears a hooded


sweatshirt that hides everything, but he glances up and I see a


won’t want to help me any more than the others did. The Bridge


should be just ahead, I can keep moving, I can—


Chapter 22