“Nice… now move your ass we have to meet Ana and you can fill me in on the way” She grabbed my hand and pulled me with her.
Was everything about to change? Was I ready for all this change? I mean come on I was moving in with a guy I’d dated for a month or so. I was hopefully about to start my career and things could get complicated.
Chapter 81
Mean and moody
By the time we sat down to eat dinner the three of us we’re spinning from the 10 different places we’d been to look at.
“Okay I think we can rule out the three that we’re well how do I put this nicely” Ana sighed “RAT HOLES FROM HELL”
“The ones that were on the far side of town?” I looked at her she nodded
“Oh they were off the list from before I stepped through the door” I nodded as the waitress came over and took our orders Brit’s phone rang and she picked it up smiling.
“Excuse me this is my weekly treat” she walked away from the table Ana and I looked at each other
“Marek” we both laughed at the same time.
“So you and Ryne” she toyed with the ice in her glass
“Yeah” I tipped my head
“Moving in after just a few weeks”
“Oh come on don’t tell me you haven’t spoken to Ryder about moving in with him because I spoke to my brother yesterday” I laughed “I know he’s asked you to wear his Marine class ring” I watched the color rise in her cheeks ‘Because he’s asked me to get it resized” I leant on the table “Ryder and I fight a lot as you know” she nodded “But we also tell each other everything”
“I know” Ana hung her head a little “And I’m sorry for asking the way I did, I’m just more protective of Ryne since what he went through with Sarah” I sat back and closed my eyes
“Ana I had a fight with Ryne the night before he left because he was comparing me to her. Please don’t you start doing the same thing because I’m not her I’ll never hurt him like that” I opened my eyes and leant forward again “I love him and I’m sorry I don’t care if people don’t approve don’t like it, I’m with my Marine and I’m staying with my Marine”
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you” she smiled at me and put her hand over mine
“I’m a little wound up right now. I’m hormonal and getting to talk to him this afternoon made me miss him even more” I felt the moisture in my eyes “See I’m tearing up now” I wipe my eyes on the napkin
“You’re working way too much” She sat back “I think we need a girls weekend away… a party weekend where we flirt up a storm get free drinks and well let loose”
“Okay the partying sounds good the flirting not so much because we get in trouble doing stuff like that” I smiled sitting back again.
“Okay how about a girls weekend partying and kicking back and letting loose”
“Now that I can handle and we’ll have to make it soon because Marek will be back in two more weeks”
“So lets go tomorrow” she shrugged “Hell lets go home pack and go tonight” she was all but bouncing in her seat
“I think tomorrow” I yawned “I’m too tired to go anywhere tonight other than to bed”
“Okay fine I can make some reservations somewhere and I’ll drive” She gabbled. I started to zone out again.
“Hey earth to Aly” Brit snapped her fingers in front of my face “What the hell’s going on with you”
“Nothing?” I smiled
“Okay do I have to call your Mom”
“No… I swear I’m fine” I chewed the inside of my cheek “Look you guys I’m so tired right now I’m no fun” I picked up my purse “I’m going to go home and go to bed and then I should be good for a weekend away”
“You’re bailing?” Brit raised her eye brows “No I’ know there’s something wrong”
“Brittany there’s nothing wrong now drop it” I snapped.
I walked out of the restaurant and moved through the crowds to the parking lot. I wanted to hear the voice of one of my Marines. I ached so much right now just to hear one of them. I missed all of them. I drove back to the base my head filled with thoughts of the future and the whole step of moving in with Ryne. Yes I was head over ass in love with him but a few months ago I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to date a marine and I was damn sure I wasn’t ready to live with one. In one conversation with him my whole world had changed and turned upside down. My heart was racing as I recalled part of the conversation over and over like I had all day. I walked into the silent house and kicked off my shoes I sat at the kitchen table and put my cell down in front of me half wishing for someone to call, half watching the time tick by in the screen. I lost track of time as the numbers blurred as I looked at them. I got up and walked to the window and looked out into the night. My phone vibrated. I walked over and picked it up.
***New Message***Unknown***out on bond baby I miss you*** 11.48pm
My blood seemed to freeze in my veins for the past month I hadn’t had to really think about Justin as the police had come to get a statement from me here and his court Date was set for some time in September, I just took it for granted that he wouldn’t get bail. Panic rose in me he’d gotten onto the base once already he could do it again and this time it was only me here” I ran round the house locking all the doors and windows. I jumped at my phone vibrating again
***New Message***Unknown***we need to meet I know that guy left you need a guy to be there 24/7 I love you and forgive you for what you did*** 12.08am
I pushed every worry and thought to the back of my mind and dialed Brit. I could take Justin I know I could but the way he kept coming back was more than a little terrifying.
Chapter 82
Scared
I was pacing the floor ignoring every time my cell phone vibrated. I was fighting with the urge to get in my truck and start heading anywhere other than here. This is when I hated the Marine corps this is when I needed my Marines, I wanted to hear my Dad’s voice, I wanted to hear Jack and Ryder giving me crap for some reason or another, I needed to hear Ryne telling me he loved me. The door knocked like it was about to be kicked in. My hand went automatically to the hand gun I had tucked in the back of my shorts.
“Aly open the damn door” Brit shouted I breathed a sigh of relief and walked over to the door and unlocked it Ana and Brit walked in. I walked back to the fireplace. “Has he called you?”
“No he’s sent text messages” I shook my head wrapping my arms round myself “I’ve called the M.P.’s and they’ve said there’s nothing they can do until he confronts me”
“You have to be kidding?” Ana groaned “This guy came onto a Military base and was ready to rape you and they can’t do anything?”
“I know, but they are increasing patrols round here and have posted his picture at the gate” I pinched the bridge of my nose.
“I see you got your Dad’s spare” Brit pointed to gun.
“Hell yeah” I rubbed the back of my neck “I’m sorry for being so out of it tonight”
“Hey it happens” Ana smiled at me “So I take it the weekend away is off”
“I’d love to but right now I feel like…” I stopped “hell I don’t know where I feel safe anymore” I sat down and put my head in my hands.
“How about if you head to Texas?” Brit sat on the table in front of me “You have to admit that’s going to be the last place that he’ll think of looking for you”
“Yeah and don’t you know some tough assed cowboys?” Ana smiled
“Why should I run from here?” I looked up. Something clicked in my head “Why should I let him do this to me?”
“Because he’s mental” Brit shook her head “Because you have to stay safe for your Marine”
“Brit’s right you want Ryne to be having to worry about you while he’s doing his job do you” Ana sat next to me
“You know I don’t” I got up “My head hurts” My phone rang the three of us looked at each other. Brit grabbed it An
a came over to me and hugged me, and to tell you the truth I was grateful for it.
Brit * are you fucking kidding… where the hell do you get off scaring the hell out of my cousin… you do know that I will rip off your fucking balls and feed them to the god damn dogs at the pound.
Dad * nice to know my niece kisses her mother with that mouth
Brit * shit, Uncle J I’m sorry, but guess what dumb assed fucking jack off son of a bitch Cowboy douche bag is out on bail and is texting Aly
I groaned and shook my head
Dad * you have to be fucking kidding me
Brit * you kiss my Aunt with that mouth?
Dad * okay smart ass put Aly on
Brit held out my phone to me
Me * hey Dad
Dad * you okay baby girl
Me * I’m pissy and annoyed and if I said I wasn’t a little scared I’d be lying.
Dad * Okay now I just want to get home.
Me * I went and got the gun from the safe in your closet
Dad * good girl.
Me * Dad I miss you guys and I don’t have any of you here and right now I thing the Marine corps sucks for taking all of you
I broke down
Me * Damn it, things aren’t happening how they should be
Dad * Aw honey you’re making this old Marine cry Baby girl.
Me * Daddy it’s not fair, it’s not right.
Dad * is Brit staying with you
Me * yeah and Ana
Dad * good, you need to call your Mom and get her to come home
Me * she’s coming home in two days
Dad * and that crazy assed guy is out now honey, the more of you that are there the better I’ll feel… Damn it I wish I was home because this time he’d have a bullet between his damn eyes
Me * I’m sorry I’m a mess right now and I shouldn’t be when you call
Dad * don’t you ever apologize for telling me you’re scared honey, I’m your Daddy and you should never be scared to tell me how you feel no matter how old you are.
His Texan accent was as strong as if he was living there right now and it comforted me.
Me * I’m so scared Daddy… I’m scared nothing will be the same I’m scared I’m going to let you down.
Brit and Ana looked at each other and shook their heads as I curled into the corner of the room between the walls
Dad * baby nothing you can to other than breaking the way will ever let me down… Oh I hate being helpless
Me * I’m sorry
Dad * put Brit on the phone honey
I held the phone out and put my head on my knees, Brit took the phone and walked into the kitchen Ana put her arms round me and hugged me to her.
Brit * Hey Uncle J
Dad * Brittany you stay with her you do not leave her alone at any point this guy has screwed with her way too much
Brit * Yes sir, Uncle J what the hell are we going to do
Dad * you girls stick together, I’m going to pull a few strings, You know how to shoot you’re better than your dad and he’s not bad,
Brit * you taught me
Dad * if that son of a bitch breaks in, or comes near you shoot him
Brit * I was going to
Dad * I’ll get word to the boys about this, I don’t want them calling and upsetting her more than she already is.
Brit * okay
Dad * tell her I love her
Brit * I will stay safe Uncle J
Dad * yes Ma’am
Brit hung up and came and sat on the floor the other side of me.
“Well it looks like were on our own for a while” she sighed “But if he comes in here he’ll regret it”
Chapter 83
Fear
The smell of coffee woke me I stretched and promptly fell off the couch.
“Ow” I groaned.
“Dumb ass” Brit Laughed putting a cup of coffee on the table in front of me “Ana went to get us some clothes from her place and mine” I got off the floor and sat on the couch. “You passed out last night, the M.P.’s came back around 4 this morning and you’re Dad had been in touch with them” I picked up the cup and stopped with it half way to my mouth.
“He’s called them”
“Called them Chewed them and threatened them apparently and” she nodded curling up in the recliner “I’m hoping that the son of a bitch appears and we get to kick his ass for real” I took a drink and sat back “Hell you look like crap”
“I feel like it” I looked at her “you know I wish I could rewind this entire summer. I wish it was still icy cold and we were sitting in the truck trying to stay warm while Ryder and Jack thought they were cool trying to surf in that winter storm” I smiled at the memory.
“Oh that afternoon was so damn cold” Brit laughed “And those dumb asses thought that they we’re impressing those girls” I looked at her
“And they turned out to be guys” we both started to laugh
“Oh God Brit where the hell did it all go bad”
“Well you wanting something other than a Marine”
“Okay I wasn’t looking for an answer” I groaned getting up and walking into the kitchen and refilling my cup.
“I know but you know me I’ll tell you straight” she leant on the door frame “Would you change everything that’s happened so far this summer?”
“No not everything”
“So you’re not regretting meeting Ryne?”
“Why would I?”
“I don’t know you just seem distant right now and then this whole moving in with him when he gets back, seemed to come out of the blue” she sat on the counter “Aly this is me you can talk to me about anything you know that”
“I know and maybe I realized I’m head over heels in love with Ryne. Maybe I know he’s the guy I want to marry” I was starting to feel irritated “Maybe I’m scared that if I don’t have him I won’t have anyone”
“You are kidding right” she looked at me with a face full of surprise
“No I’m not, I’ve never been more scared of losing any of our Marines till now” I walked over to her “I’m scared that Justin will do something if he gets the chance and Ryne won’t want anything to do with me and he won’t…” I trailed off and turned away
“Okay you are so not making any sense whatsoever you’re giving us half sentences” she got down “So help me I’ll shake you if you don’t stop”
“Hey Guys’ I’m back” Ana walked in to me and Brit face to face “Okay so the tension is through the roof in here”
“I’m going to take a shower” I walked by both of them.
I let the water thunder down on my head. I felt like I was losing my mind, I sat on the floor of the shower and hugged my knees to my chest. I got out and put on my robe and went to my room and started to dry my hair. the door knocked and Brit put her head round the frame
“Okay I’m not apologizing for anything I said and I still want to shake sense in and out of you” She sighed “but there’s two M.P.’s downstairs that need to talk to you”
“I’ll get dressed and I’ll be down” I nodded Brit walked put and closed the door behind her. I grabbed my clothes and got dressed and headed down the stairs. Two M.P.’s were standing in the living room one of them on his cell phone the other talking to Ana and Brit.
“Please tell me you’re here to tell me that you’ve caught him” I said trying to sound calm and collected when inside I was a little girl that was scared for the future scared that her life was imploding.
“No Ma’am I wish we were”
“So why then?” I tipped my head
“Well we’ve got APB’s out at all over the state on base and outside, because he really shouldn’t have been released”
“No shit Sherlock” Ana grumbled
“Ma’am it wasn’t us that released him but we are the ones that are looking out for him” the Second M.P. said bluntly
“Excuse my friend” I said shaking my head ‘But right now they are tryi
ng to hold me together while some crazy person is out there after me” I leant on the back of the couch “I have none of my Marines here three are in Afghanistan, my dad is in Iraq and the others are dotted in other bases or countries… My friends are the ones with my back right now”
“We understand but we just needed to inform you that Justin’s bond has been revoked”
“Thank you” I took a deep breath.
“Ma’am I wouldn’t walk round with the weapon” he pointed to the Hand gun
“Yeah well I have a permit I’m the daughter and sister of Snipers, I will take the son of a bitch out this time if he comes near me” I literally snarled at him.
The time ticked by so slowly that day I’d shut my phone off and it felt like I was trapped in the house. Ana and Brit chattered and tried to keep my mind off Justin, but Justin was only part of the problem.
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