Red turned to look down at her. She was about five feet seven, but Red was six feet two.
“He’s a good man, Cass. He just acts like a flirt, but I bet he would be loyal to you.”
She looked away.
“I’m not really interested right now.”
He asked what she wanted to drink, and she said white wine, so the bartender poured it for her.
“You sound like you had a bad experience.”
She looked at him, and he could see the sadness in her eyes. But then it quickly disappeared. She had always been tough, especially on the outside.
“Not my business. I didn’t mean to pry.” He raised his hands.
“No, sir, it’s just fairly new. I got involved with the wrong guy. Fell for the charms, the money, and well, it got bad quickly. I think I’m better off helping people and working in my profession than anything else.”
“Did he hurt you?”
She turned away, and Red knew she wasn’t going to tell him anything else. He couldn’t believe how annoyed he was.
“So, how is life on the ranch? Are your sons still active duty?”
She took a seat on the bar stool, and he joined her. The explosion of laughter caught their attention as some men and women brought over some sort of gift for the retiree. An obvious inside joke but the man seemed happy about it.
Red told Cass about his sons and their team retiring and living on the ranch next door.
“That is wonderful. I’ve heard about a lot of these teams continuing to live together and move on with their lives as one unit. I suppose it helps them adjust to civilian life better when they’re with others who understand.”
“It’s not so easy.” Red began to explain about Stryker. He ran his fingers through his hair.
“I’m at my wit’s end, Cass. It’s so hard, and no one, not his brother Cash or his team, can get through to him.”
“I’m so sorry. I know it’s tough. I’ve seen it a lot, where the soldiers can’t or won’t adjust. They’re being stubborn, and they give up. Have you looked into getting any private care?”
He looked at her and chuckled.
“Been through six therapists and home care individuals. They were recommended at the VA hospital and even some private ones. They don’t last but a few days.”
“I have a few friends I might be able to recommend.”
He shook his head.
“Can’t go through this much more. Stryker won’t let another nurse or therapist near him.”
“Listen, I’m in between places right now. I’ve been looking for a new place to rent. It’s such a bad time right now.”
“I thought Frederick said you were working in Houston.”
“I was as of a few weeks ago. Now I’m doing some temporary jobs training private care nurses. My last week is coming up. But I have to find a new place to live. I was staying with a friend, but she has a couple of steady boyfriends now, and they want to get married.”
“Well, have you considered Tranquility? It’s about forty-five minutes or so from Houston. Not a bad commute if you have work there or nearby.”
“I’ve never heard of the place before.”
“Well then, you should come check it out. There’s a place outside of Tranquility and a place called Casper’s. A bunch of jarheads opened it up years ago. It’s the local hot spot. Great food, awesome atmosphere. In fact, you might remember one of the bartenders, Garrett McCallister. He was injured in combat four or five years ago. I think you were there with Dr. Reynolds.”
“I’m not sure.”
Red smiled.
“He would remember you. Especially those bedside visits you didn’t have to make after helping every soldier in the field. You and Dr. Reynolds made a great team.”
She smiled. “I miss working with him. But I hear he’s going to retire soon.”
“That’s because there was talk of the Corps sending him back to the Middle East. He doesn’t want to be in the heat of battle anymore.” Red took a sip from his glass.
“Can’t say I blame him. I don’t think I ever really recovered from that little mission in the chopper we were in. Lost five soldiers that day.”
“You helped to save over a dozen. That was a hell of a situation. One of the worse I recall being in. But you were amazing. You saved lives that day.”
“So did you.”
“But that was my job, not yours.”
“I did what any trained Marine would do.”
“That you did, Cass.”
He lifted his glass toward her, and they clinked glasses before they each took a sip. Then some of the guys came over to say hello and, of course, to meet Cassidy. He smiled as he watched her. Whatever had happened to her in that relationship must have really left a bad taste in her mouth. She showed no interest in any of the men around them. He couldn’t help but wonder if he should push for her to come out to Tranquility. Even if not to help Stryker, maybe just to have a chance at a better life after serving as a Marine.
* * * *
Cassidy slammed the phone down. She needed to change the number. Again.
She couldn’t believe that Blaze was calling her and trying to make up for what he had done. She’d told him it was over months ago. She even threatened going to the police and getting an order of protection against him. She should have. But how badly would that have looked for a Marine to get an order of protection?
She was pissed off as she gathered the last of her things. She had no choice. She had to leave Houston and the job she enjoyed. There was potential here, and her good friend. Blaze pulling a gun on her and threatening her life was the last straw. She shivered remembering that night she lay in bed and he broke in. She had ignored his calls. She’d gone out with friends, and he’d seen her with some guys. It had been harmless, and it hadn’t mattered, but he had become obsessed with her. He clung to her because he wasn’t right after being discharged from the Army. The military knew it and had done nothing. Of course she didn’t know his background then. She only knew his charming smile, his good looks and great body, and the way he catered to her and treated her like a woman. It wasn’t until she started dating him that she began to notice the little things he would do.
Like showing up to meet her after work or stopping in to see if she could take a lunch break, all the while glaring at the male patients she was helping and eventually accusing her of fucking them all.
She had tried to help him, had tried to do her job, but he’d lost it. His unstable, obsessive mentality was getting more and more out of control. She knew he suffered from PTSD, but this was more. The way his eyes bore into hers, the way he gripped her arms and placed her into submissive positions and holds was a show of dominance and violence. Still, she’d tried to help him. She tried to learn about his position in the Army and what exactly he’d engaged in on missions. She shared her experience, and he minimized it yet obsessed over her scars. He traced them with his finger then gripped her and made love to her roughly as if testing how tough she was, or maybe even whether she was immune to pain, to death.
It didn’t help that his friends knew how he was and protected him. They even tried to get her to accept him back. But that night he broke into her place, watched her sleeping until the sunlight illuminated the room, had creeped her out. When she gasped, noticing him in the chair with a gun in his hand, she thought for sure she was dead. She saw her life pass before her eyes, and she jumped up to run for her own gun, only for Blaze to shove her up against the wall, place the gun under her chin against her throat, and beg her to stay with him or die together.
She shook the thoughts from her head, ignored the stray tear that escaped her eye, and closed up the suitcase.
She glanced around the room. She couldn’t take any of the furniture or other things. It would waste too much time and draw too much attention to the apartment. She had to sneak out at night. She had to place herself in survival-soldier mode and escape Houston, escape Blaze and his friends and the trouble
she’d fallen into.
She was alone in this world. That was all she kept thinking. She would have to move around and move on with her life somehow. Of course she thought about Red and his description of Tranquility. It didn’t seem as if it was far enough away, but maybe it would be enough. Maybe she could reach out to him and get some guidance and help. Of course, without him knowing about Blaze.
“Hey, do you need any help?” Lynn asked as she appeared in the doorway.
Cassidy shook her head.
She would miss Lynn. But it was time to move on.
“He’s an asshole, Cassidy. You should know that by now. He’s not giving up on harassing you. Now he’s calling me. Jim and Chris are going to be pissed. You know how protective they are of me.”
“I know, Lynn. I’m sorry. I’ve got everything packed, and I’m leaving tonight. Late. I’ll contact Blaze and tell him I’m no longer living in Houston. That should do it.”
“I won’t tell him where you’re going. Although I don’t even know,” Lynn said with tears in her eyes.
Cassidy walked over and hugged her. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too. Maybe one day you can come back. When all this is over?” Lynn said.
“Not sure if that day will ever come, and I’m not going to waste hope that it will.” Cass pulled back then reached for another bag to fill.
“He’s got something wrong with him. Being in the service screwed up his head. They never should have allowed him to leave the VA hospital.”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t work that way. People react differently to PTSD. Besides, it was more than that, and we both know it. I didn’t even realize he had a record before he went into the Army until after he assaulted me and started threatening me.”
“Having a bunch of friends, his troop, watching his back doesn’t help either. I’ll never understand why they would lie for him and protect him when they know he isn’t right in the head. When they know he could have killed you.”
“There’s a special bond with soldiers in a troop. The longer they serve together, the deeper their bond. They would give up their lives for one another. It’s pretty damn special,” Cass told her.
“It’s not so special in this situation. It’s corrupted.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“Well, at least you have your two soldiers to love you and take care of you. I think you should tell them about Blaze calling you. They need to protect you and take precautions.”
“I don’t know. Then they’ll get all crazy. Jim and Chris will attach a monitoring device to my ankle and walk everywhere I go, carrying Glocks and looking ready to kill.”
“That’s not so bad. They love you. The right way.”
Lynn released a sigh and looked sad for Cassidy.
“I hope one day you’ll find the right man or men for you, too. Ones that can love you and take care of you the way you deserve. Please be careful, Cass.”
“I will be, Lynn, and most importantly, you’ll be safe now, too.”
Lynn hugged Cass and then walked out of the bedroom. Cass looked around the room. The Jeep was fully packed, and she had only these last few bags. She planned on heading to a hotel somewhere out of town. She needed to leave. Blaze had cost her her job at the hospital. He was stalking her, watching her every move and threatening any men, even patients, she was helping. He was paranoid and obsessed. He needed serious counseling, and she wasn’t going to do that. If she had only known what kind of man he really was when she’d first met him… That was how good he was at pretending to be normal. But then he would lose it. Small things would trigger outrageous behavior. He could have killed her that night, but instead, she’d calmed him down, gotten him to put the gun away, and held him until he believed she wasn’t going to leave him or go anywhere.
She swallowed hard and grabbed her other things. There was no place for her to go except out of Houston. She thought about Red again and his description of Tranquility. Maybe it was far enough to go? Maybe she could find a job?
She needed to work. She needed to survive, despite her poor choices. At least she would feel less of an outsider in a town filled with retired soldiers and, of course, Red. But was she reaching for something, hoping to be part of something she had no right being part of? Red had his sons, their team, and God knew how many other soldiers living in that town. What was she hoping to find there? Why was she even considering reaching out to Red?
She had called him the day after Blaze hurt her. She told him bits and pieces about the relationship and about needing to end it. He offered to come out to help her. She smiled as tears filled her eyes. She’d gained more than the respect of Sergeant Major Red Halloway that day in battle. She had gained a friend, a comrade who had her back. Would she be placing him in danger by leaning on him, even for a short period of time while she planned her next move?
She stood there and contemplated on what to do. Her gut clenched, and she closed her eyes to try and listen to what her gut was telling her to do. She really had no place to go and no one to trust.
She pulled out her cell phone and looked for Red’s number. He said he knew some places for rent in Tranquility. That was a start. She would put Blaze behind her and move on with her life as it was before. Lonely, keeping busy, and focusing on everything and everyone else but herself and her problems. Yup, time to move on once again.
Chapter 2
Red felt antsy as he tapped his foot and kept glancing toward the entrance to Casper’s. He was listening to John Luke talking about the parade coming up next week. All the storefronts in town were donating or setting up tables in front. They, of course, were planning on setting up tents in the parking lot, having an outdoor BBQ and beer truck on hand, and donating the money made to the wounded warrior fund set up in Tranquility.
Red was interested, but right now, he just wanted to see Cass and know that she was okay. Although she’d only told him bits and pieces about some bad relationship she had with some guy, she sounded as if it was more serious and she was being her tough, stubborn self. He hoped by getting her to come out here to meet him today that he could convince her to live near him and the guys. She was a good person. She didn’t have any family around, and they had formed a special bond. He glanced at his son Cash, who sat by the bar. He hadn’t wanted to come along, but Red thought it would give them some time to be alone on the ride in and talk. But they’d hardly said much to one another. The relationship was strained. Too many times they fought over Stryker’s treatment and care options. Cash and the team wanted to let Stryker be to just work it all out himself. Red felt he needed help, especially physically, getting him to exercise and do the right things to strengthen his legs and hips. He exhaled.
Apparently Stryker’s brother and team knew better.
* * * *
Cash stood by the bar in Casper’s. His dad was talking to John Luke, Jasper, and Davie, the owners of the place. Cash took a slug of beer then placed the bottle back down onto the bar.
“Where’s the rest of the crew?” Garrett, a bartender, a friend, and retired Marine asked him.
“I don’t think they were in the mood to hang out tonight.”
“So you came with your dad? Things must be rough,” Garrett teased, and Cash smirked.
“He was meeting an old friend here. Someone who’d just moved nearby or something. I don’t know. But he wanted me to meet them too.”
Garrett looked past him and stopped what he was doing. Cash wondered what was up, and he heard some low whistles from a group of rowdy guys to the right, and Garrett smirk. Cash turned to look and was shocked to see his father halfway across the room in a flash, pulling some gorgeous brunette into his arms. She was smiling as his dad released her, kept a hand at her waist, and brought her toward John Luke, Jasper, and Davie.
Cash couldn’t believe that his dad knew a woman as sexy and hot as this one. But he was even more surprised when Garrett asked Ezekiel, the other bartender, to watch the bar.
Cash c
ouldn’t do anything but stare.
* * * *
“Holy crap, it’s my favorite nurse,” some guy from behind the bar yelled out as Cassidy shook hands with John Luke, Jasper, and Davie, the owners of Casper’s.
“I told you Garrett would remember you,” Red told her as Garrett greeted her.
“Cassidy Williams. My God, how have you been?” he asked, and Cassidy did recognize Garrett after all. She remembered the way he acted to the other nursing staff and how he was so pissed off after surgery, having to stay in bed.
“Gunnery Sergeant Garrett McCallister, of course I remember you, and that stinking, bad attitude of yours. Is that a smile on your face?” she teased him, and then he reached out and hugged her.
Garrett began to explain to his fathers about her being the lead ER nurse alongside Dr. Reynolds, who helped to save his life.
“You have to meet Gia. My brothers and I got married not too long ago.”
“That is great, and I would love to,” Cass told him.
“Cass is moving into Tranquility. She just needs to decide on which place she likes more. Of course, I would love to have her stay on my ranch. I’ve got plenty of room with my sons and their team living next door.”
“I told you already, Red. I wouldn’t take advantage of your generosity.”
“But it’s silly to pay rent on a place when you can have your choice of living in the house or in the smaller cottage on the property. I don’t have anyone renting right now,” Red pushed, and she smiled.
“You are persistent, sir. We’ll talk about it,” Cass told him.
“Over some beers,” Red said, and the others joined in as they made their way to the bar.
Garrett headed around to set the beers up for them, and Red led her down toward the other side. She immediately noticed a man standing there, his eyes focused on her and then her body. She felt a little shiver of interest. That surprised her, but then again, the man was definitely a nice piece of eye candy. Tall, around six feet two or so, big brown eyes, crew-cut brown hair, and an expression that read reserved but ready for a fight. He was a soldier. No mistake about it.
Ask Me No Questions Page 2