Chapter 60

EXTRA 4: JULIAN, 25 YEARS

Ajmin, Egypt.

7 months ago.

He could feel his heart crawling up his throat, or at least it seemed that way; he wasn't sure of anything anymore. He didn't know how he had allowed those men to take Elizabeth; he should have protected her better. Julian brought both hands to his head, sliding them down his face, which now only reflected deep despair. They were at the camp they had set up upon arriving in the city, or what was left of it, as the bandits had destroyed everything. Apparently, they were looking for something, and Julian had a vague idea of what it might be, but he prayed he was wrong.

The rest of the team was brainstorming ways to recover Elizabeth, and he knew he had to be the one to contribute the most, but he was too numb to offer anything of value. He couldn't understand why fate was intent on separating the two of them. He had once lost Elizabeth, and he didn't want to go through that again. At first, he didn't recogn