Long Shot | 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

Chapter 1

I fucking hated airports. I mean, I guess I didn't hate what airports stood for, seeing as if you were at one you were usually going away on vacation or returning from one; both of which feel equally as magical as the other...but if you happen to be at one and find yourself not in a trance of sunny skies and fruity drinks on a beach somewhere and actually look around, you realize that all airports are are long lines, annoyed people, and handsy security guards.

Whenever I found myself at an airport it was usually because I was being deployed somewhere or heading out on a contract job; the latter of which was true this time around. I had joined the U.S. Marine Corps when I was eighteen—straight outta high school. It wasn't because I had always dreamt of a life in the forces, no, it was because as soon as I shifted the tassel on my blue graduation cap and finally took a good look at my diploma, I came to a harsh realization—I had no plans for the future and no drive to really pursue anything either. So, I did what my father and his father before him had done, I signed up for the Marine Corps...and it was the best decision I have made in my entire life.

I stuck with the marines for ten years, let them teach me all I thought I wanted to know, became one hell of a long-distance shooter, and then started taking contract deals through a few people I had met during my climb up the so-called 'corporate ladder'.

A few weeks ago I got a call from an old buddy of mine, Rone, and just like I had suspected as soon as I saw his name on my caller ID, he had a job for me. It was a contracted job for the GRS (Global Resource Solutions) and of course, I took it. I was set to be stationed in Libya for a little over a month, and when Rone gave me the flight details and what to expect when landing, I set the date in my calendar and didn't think twice about it.

Now here I was, standing in one of the longest security lines I had ever seen, just wishing I was on the plane already with my eyes shut and some music playing through my earbuds.

Feeling my phone vibrate gently in my back pocket, I switched the bottle of water I was holding to my left hand before fishing out my phone and bringing it up to my ear. "Hello" I answered.

"Lex, it's me, Calvin." I heard my finace's voice on the other end of the call. "I just wanted to call one last time before you got on your flight. How are you?"

My face lit up as I took a step forward in the ever-so-slightly moving security line. "I'm okay." I replied. "I'm in the longest line I've ever seen, but besides that, I'm all ready."

"Gosh, I really wish you didn't have to go. I know you like this stuff, but from what you tell me, it all just sounds so dangerous."

"It can be, but it's all for a good cause." I told him the same thing I always told him when he got worried. "I'm serving my country, which is something I'm actually proud to say I do."

I heard a long, exasperated sigh on the other end. "Yeah, no, I get it. Well, hey, I'm gonna let you go now. Have a safe flight and call me as soon as you can. Love you, bye!"

"Bye." I reciprocated as the call ended. Slightly frustrated, I shoved the phone back into my pocket and took yet another step forward. I had met Calvin about three years ago at a conference I had been made to attend during the end of my marine career. He had been one of the sharply dressed men in a suit who sat at the same table as us but had no idea what anything we were talking about was really like.

He was like most people; they didn't understand. Spending six months to a year away from home in a country where it's too hot, the people hate you, and you have to keep your eyes peeled at all times is merely a thought to these people; a situation that happens, but not to them.

"Ma'am." a rough, aggrivated voice pulled me from my thoughts.

Looking up at the large man who was just barely squeezing into his guard uniform, I gave a slight nod of the head and began to place my things into the small bin so it could be x-rayed. After that, I got through security at a much faster rate and a quick ten minutes later I was standing outside of my gate, ready to board the plane.