“What’s that supposed to mean” he smiled
“Ryne we had Sex outside of the Marine Summer ball against the side of a damn Humvee” I looked at him “Honorable is waiting to have sex and if you do it’s in the bedroom behind closed doors, and we’ve already broken most things in one apartment, we got caught getting dirty by your damn parents and…” Ryne was standing looking at me “Oh hell get your dress blue wearing ass up here right now Marine”
Chapter 72
The curse
I was sitting on the balcony wrapped in the blanket hugging my knees listening to the sounds of the ocean.
“Have you been to sleep?” Ryne pulled me up and sat in the seat and sat me on his lap
“No” I shook my head “how did he get on the base?”
“He came in with a delivery guy” Ryne tucked my hair back behind my ear “I spoke to one of the M.P’s when you were in the shower”
“My Grandmother was raped in the high school” Ryne raised his eye brows “The base isn‘t water tight”
“I guess we take it for granted that because its Military we automatically assume that it’s a safe place” He trailed his fingers over my bare shoulder.
“There’s no such thing as a safe place, shit will find you where ever you are” I looked at him “And with the girls in my family it’ll hunt you down a find you and kick you in the gut”
“What do you mean?”
“I know it sounds stupid but we tend to call it the family curse”
“Curse?”
“Yep. There’s never really been girls in the family until this generation there was one girl in each of the others. I mean girls obviously married in but as direct girls we’re limited” I smiled. “It started with my Great, great Grandma she wasn’t raised on a base like the rest of us have been she went to a normal High school in Minnesota and she never wanted to date a Marine, her Dad and Brother were the Marines and it terrified her when they went away. She dated a guy in high school that ended up beating her and it got so bad he stabbed her and left her for dead in an alleyway”
“Holy Crap” Ryne shook his head
“Oh it carries on my Great Grandma had a crazy stalker that got into her bedroom and took picures and stuff while she slept and then she had to deal with a pain in the ass ex of my Great grandpa’s who was out to destroy them but failed then there was my Grandma who I mentioned before was raped in the locker room here at the high school” Ryne was watching me intently.
“What about your Mom?”
“She and Dad were sort of like me and you with fighting only they didn’t take it to the ring and I’m pretty sure she didn’t try to choke him” Ryne smiled “But they dated for a few weeks and he took her home to Texas” Ryne nodded “she was then confronted in the yard of the ranch by his ex wife”
“Okay”
“Yeah the ex that Dad had sort of forgot to mention”
“Oh not good”
“Noi therer was a lot of arguing andf Mom flew home and basically wouldn’t see him he was deploying and she went to see if thye ex was there seeing him off”
Was she?”
“No so they agreed to be in touch while he was away and then there was an attack on the camp he was in and no one knew for days if they were dead or alive” I ran my fingers through my hair they were basically inseperable from him getting home but my grandpa couldn’t let go how heartbroken mom had been over the wife thing and he let my Dad know even though Dad had stopped the guy that raped my Grandma from trying again with a bullet through his head”
“Oh my god”
“More stuff happened that’s for another day” I got off his lap and walked over to the rail and leant on it “My Mom and Dad broke the biggest rule in our family and they ran to city hall and got married behind everyone’s back”
“Nice” He started to laugh and leant back in the chair with his hands behind his head
“Yeah I my family with the amount of girls they get to spoil with a big wedding it’s a huge no no” I shook my head laughing
“Damn and there go my plans for the day” he got up and slid his arms round my waist “I was thinking we could go grab breakfast and do a quickie wedding”
“Ryne really we’ve been dating 3 weeks” I laughed “and we have 30 minutes to get ready and get to the base where Mom wants us for breakfast”
“Okay break a Marines heart” He feigned misery
“Oh stop” I swatted him “We need to get to the house because Uncle Flynn was going to talk to Brit and Marek about getting hooked up”
“How the hell did he find that out?” He followed me into the bedroom
“The fire chief plays poker with Uncle Logan every week and I guess it came out over the table of cards” I shrugged picking up my bag and pulling out a skirt and tank.
“Oh I’d so not like to be a fly on the wall for that conversation”
“Yeah well if you want to be around me for much longer you’ll have to get used to the fact we all know how horny Marines get and we all are open to a point about what happens” I shrugged dropping the blanket.
“Well if I’m going to have to face your family then I want to do it with a smile on my face” he tackled me sending me flying onto the bed
You’re crazy” I laughed as he kissed my neck.
“Yes I blow shit up for a living you have to be a little deranged to do that” he chuckled “And I’m in love with a girl that turns me on just looking at her”
“Can I ask you something?”
“I’m busy” he groaned as he kissed my ribs
“Ryne” He stopped and moved back up the bed
“Okay you have my attention” He smiled
“Last night when you had the gun at Justin’s head…”
“I would have pulled the trigger in heartbeat… if that’s what you’re asking” I nodded “and so would Ryder but he’s your brother and he takes people out for a living” He hugged me to him “But no one is going to take my girl from me and no one is going to hurt you if I’m anywhere close” he kissed my shoulder “I’m a Marine and I protect what’s mine”
“Not sounding at all possessive there Sgt Stockwell”
“You asked” he laughed “Come on let’s get dressed and go to your Mom’s and then I have a meeting at three”
“What about”
“Work” he shrugged “you know the drill”
Chapter 73
Sit down chat
I opened the door and walked inside
“Morning Honey” Uncle Flynn came from the kitchen on his crutches “Everyone’s out on the back deck”
“Is Marek still in one piece?’ I laughed walking over to him and kissing his cheek
“Yes he is but I have told him he has to remove the…” He pulled a face “ring”
“Okay I don’t need to know” I held up my hands Uncle Flynn looked at Ryne “You don’t have the metal do you?”
“Hell no Sir” Ryne shook his head he was face to face with the Col that head seen him through boot camp.
“How’s EOD?”
“It’s good Sir” Ryne Nodded the door opened from the deck and Mom walked in. “Ma’am” he smiled at Mom and nodded
“Morning” Mom walked in to the kitchen and came out with a plate filled with cinnamon rolls “Aly can you take these out to the others before your brother started to eat the table”
‘Sure” I took them from her
“We’ll all be out in a minute” She smiled at me
“Oh god seriously you guys” I groaned the phone started to ring
“That’ll be your J.J.” Uncle Flynn smiled
“You have to be kidding”
“Take the rolls honey” Mom scooted me out of the door.
“You could have warned me it was an ambush” I groaned putting the plate on the table.
“Sorry” Ryder grinned at me “You okay after last night?” I sat down next to Brit and nodded
“I’m trying not to think
about it”
“I think we should all go out for dinner tonight” Brit rubbed my arm “Marek has t go back to the Island tomorrow and Ryder leave on Friday”
“I like that idea” Ana nodded Ryder looked at her and linked his fingers with hers and rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand.
“Ryne’s got a meeting”
“So he can meet us where ever we go” Ryder shrugged “Come on we need to kick back considering the one really good night we were supposed to have really sucked because some dumb cowboy decided to see if we had itchy trigger fingers and believe me I was at the range this morning at 6 am just to get that out of my system”
“I’m sorry I rubbed my hand over my face and looked down.
“It’s not your fault he was the dumb ass that came back Al… the best thing was he did it on our ground and he didn’t think it through”
“I wish I could go back and re start this summer because so far apart from a few things going right it’s pretty much sucked”
“Aw Aly I know Ryne’s a pain in the ass but give him a break” Ana teased
“I never thought the day he spilled beer on me and irritated the crap out of me I’d end up being in love with him”
“None of us did” Brit laughed “Hell we didn’t expect Ryne to be such a glutton for punishment and keep coming back for more” I swatted her “Come on how many times have you put him in a choke hold”
“Three” I sighed shaking my head
“Okay you should marry that marine for putting up with that” Marek laughed
“Oh shush” I laughed “I hope to god Dad’s not going off on Ryne” I looked back toward the house
“Yeah I forgot to tell you Dad called Mom last night and she filled him in on what happened and that you guys were coming over here”
“You suck as a watchman you know that” I rubbed my temples.
Ryne sat down at the table opposite Uncle Flynn as Mom went to get the phone.
“So am I in trouble?” Ryne asked
“No” Uncle Flynn shook his head “You should be written up for what you were doing last night with my niece and I’m not talking about when you went home”
“I know and I’m sorry but you have one hot niece… Ow” he felt a slap round the back of his head as Mom walked in and Gibbs slapped him.
“That’s my daughter Marine” she tried not to smile as she placed the phone on the table
Dad * B leave the Marine alone remember what I said to you if he’s willing to put a gun to the head of the guy that fucked with Aly then he’s all good.
“That’s what I said J” Uncle Flynn chuckled “But don’t forget my sister didn’t see what we saw that night”
Dad * True she was taking a nap
“Okay I’m going to revoke your privileges when you get home Marine” Mom smiled shaking her head “And you can fend for yourself till Riley gets home” She poked Flynn in the ribs Ryne was looking slightly confused “Ryne take no notice of dumb and jack ass”
Dad * So Ryne you and my little girl are moving along pretty fast?
“Yes sir, I guess we are”
Dad * okay here’s the deal. I’m stuck here I can’t protect my baby girl like I’m supposed to so how it happens in this family is the family steps in when I can’t and I have to thank you in the beating you gave that sorry son of a bitch and for being there for Alyssa
“I’m in love with her I’m not going to stand back and let some guy hurt what I love… and with a due respect to the Col here but I would have pulled the trigger if I wasn’t told to step down” Uncle Flunn nodded and looked at Mom.
Dad * did Aly tell you about me killing the guy that hurt my wife and her Mother?
“She told me you put a bullet in his head” Ryne leant on the table
Dad * my wife had been taken by the guy that years before had hurt her Mom and his son and at the end of the day they brought it on base and I was the one that insisted on taking the shots.
Mom wrapped her arms round herself Uncle Flynn got up and limped round the table and put his arm round her
Dad * I had to look down the scope on my rifle and see the one woman that was my world and it’s been the only time I’ve been nervous to shot.
“Okay don’t tell Aly but I was scared more than facing an IED” Ryne rubbed his hand over his jaw “Having a gun that close to her and ready to shoot”
“You were in Marine Mode” Uncle Flynn chuckled “it happens to all of us and I think What J.J. is trying to say is you have our total respect and thanks for doing what you did”
Dad * okay smart ass you ‘re wanting to watcht he game on TV arent’ you
“How did you guess?” Uncle flunn laughed
Dad * because you’re hurrying me up
“Well if you’d taken the job you were offered instead of still deploying”
“Okay boys play nice” Mom butted in
“I plan on being around for a while with Aly so I hope soon sir I’ll get to meet you” Ryne got the conversation back on track.
Dad * me too Marine… you don’t have any ex wives do you
“No sir I don’t” Ryne chuckled as Mom grabbed the phone and took it off speaker
“Okay Marine you need to stop or seriously you and your hand will be spending a lot of time together when you get home” she got up and walked into the kitchen.
“I think you shoud go and show Aly that we haven’t eaten you or torn you apart” Flynn laughed.
‘Yes Sir” Ryne got up from the table
“Just don’t hurt Alyssa please”
“I won’t” He nodded
Chapter 74
Brother and sister
“Everything okay?” I asked getting up as Ryne walked out
“Everything’s fine your dad wanted to thank me for last night” he kissed my forehead “Okay I didn’t think it would take that long I have to run to that meeting”
“We’re all going to be at the pool hall” Ryder said getting up “You join us down there”
“Okay” Ryne nodded
“I’ll walk out with you” I took his hand and followed him back to the front of the house
“Please don’t tell me they went all out on you” I sighed looping my fingers into his pockets
“No they didn’t they wanted to thank me like I said” he leant on the truck and pulled me to him “Your dad told me how scared he was when he had to see your mom in his sight” I nodded “And I told them not to tell you but I was a wreck inside having the gun ready to fire 6 inches from you”
“But you didn’t shoot so it’s okay” I smiled at him “I love you”
“I love you too baby” he wrapped his arms round me and hugged me to him “I’ll call you when I’m done with the meeting” he opened the door of his truck.
“Ryne” he stopped and looked at me “It doesn’t matter” I walked backwards as he smiled at me and got into this truck I had this feeling that this wasn’t a good meeting he was going to. The others all walked round from the back of the house.
“Come on” Brit smiled I chewed the inside of my cheek
“You guys go on and we’ll catch you up” Ryder suggested
“Okay but you’ve got 20 minutes or you’re buying lunch” Ana called over as they got in Brit’s car
“Stop worrying over something that you don’t know” Ryder put his hands on my shoulders “I know we don’t have the crazy connection Mom and Flynn do but I do know when you’re scared” he rested his chin on the top of my head.
“Come on Ryder when has Marine life ever been smooth sailing? We seem to get comfortable and bam we get hit with a seven month split” I leaned back in to him for a hug “I’m at that comfortable place Ry and I just know that it’s coming”
“He’s a Marine sis it’s what he does?”
“I know and right now I’m trying not to think about his job because you know the risks of what he does”
“I know and you have to be one sandwich short of a picnic to
do his job but then he did fall in love with you which I would happily say means that we can have him certified insane” He kissed the top of my head “Come on you’re not allowed to be a downer today we’re already dreading this week and Brits taken to bursting into t tears about tomorrow”
“What do you think to Marek?”
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