Wayward
A Soldier's Heart
Kimber Delaney
QQQQ Press
Copyright © 2021 Kimber Delaney
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
References to real events, establishments, organizations, or locales are intended only to provide authenticity, and are used fictitiously. All characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author's imagination and are not based in any way on real people, living or dead.
The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. government.
Cover designed by MiblArt.
Formatting by C.B. Everett.
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-7276798-0-6
eBook ISBN: 978-1-7376798-1-3
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Content warning
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
About The Author
For Chris.
Acknowledgements
As with everything, there are people who have helped make this dream of mine a reality.
Keira Lane—Watching you on your own writing journey has been a joy. Having you accompany me on mine has been a privilege. Your running commentary, suggestions, snark, and cheering have been instrumental in the creation of this book. I really can’t thank you enough.
Matt (Mr. Keira)—Thanks to you, I now have documents on explosions and blast injuries. You know, the important things for romance novels. Seriously, though, thank you for being willing to talk with me about your experiences. I appreciate it more than you know.
Liz—Thank you for the beta read and probably the best compliment I could ever get. Next time, we’ll make sure you don’t have to stop to make dinner.
Sabrina—Just because.
And the small group of people who’ve held me close and given me their support and love: Eliz, Mel, Mittie, Stacy, Lynn, Flo, and Rodna. Thank you all.
Content warning
Human trafficking. Implied sexual assault and sexual exploitation (NO graphic detail). Physical violence. Murder. Blood, gore, combat, carbombing.
CHAPTER ONE
The bug that hit her windshield around mile marker 296 seemed an appropriate symbol for the path life was taking her. Any move to dislodge the insect would only smear it, and yet leaving it alone presented a sight hazard, however small.
As Audrey drove south, the Huachuca mountain range peeked higher and higher over the horizon. The sun was high, illuminating the pale blue of the clear sky with a glow that came from early fall days. Sagebrush and mesquite appeared as dots and clumps in the distance. She could pick out the mounds of prickly pear cacti near the fence lines, and taller ocotillo stood higher than most everything else. A light breeze blew the brown grasses next to the road, and an occasional tumbleweed bounced through the fields.
The tightness in her back muscles reminded her she should have stopped a few miles back at the Interstate exchange. No matter. She was only half an hour out from her new assignment. Garrison duty. She unclenched her jaw and took a deep breath. She’d avoided garrison for most of her career. It was a bitter thing that the first time she got tagged with it was to come here, of all places.
Audrey gripped the steering wheel and leaned forward as far as she could, twisting slightly, trying to find some relief. The only memories she had involved school and a few people who lived in the neighborhood with whom she’d stay during her father’s brief trips. She was only eight when she left Fort Huachuca to go live with her uncle permanently. He’d taken care of her during longer deployments, and she considered him her only family. Except for Charlie.
It was pretty here. She’d fallen in love with the sunsets of the desert Southwest during trips to Ft. Bliss and NTC and had spent the last two weeks exploring New Mexico and northern Arizona. She woke that morning in the bed of her truck, having stayed up late watching the stars somewhere north of Deming.
Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. Maybe the change would do her good. Maybe she’d keep telling herself that until she sort of believed this was a positive thing instead of the boulder of doom she’d been carrying around for the last few weeks since her emergency reassignment. And maybe she could get herself out of here and back out to the field where she belonged.
The clipped British voice announcing her turn knocked her out of her reverie. A minute later, the green highway sign confirmed the GPS. She signaled and slowed down before turning right onto the installation. Wouldn’t do to get pulled over before she ever checked in. Off to the right, a Border Patrol car was parked next to one of the Military Police vehicles. The occupants were engrossed in conversation, laughing. As she rounded the curve, she could just make out tall junipers and roof lines in the distance. Closer still was the guard shack, and she slowed down to navigate around the cones that led her to the checkpoint. The contractor scanned her ID and waved her through.
The ubiquitous brown direction signs led her through the installation. It was the end of the lunch hour and troops were wandering back to their duties. She passed the PX and commissary and eventually made her way to the detachment building.
As she opened the door, a head popped up from behind a long desk. A second later, a young Specialist stood up and greeted her.
“Signing in,” she said, and handed him a copy of her orders.
He pulled out a large book from under the counter and copied her information into the ledger before giving her ID back. “I have some things for you.” He slid an envelope and a packet across the desk. “First Sergeant Randall took care of your apartment paperwork,” he said.
Well, Audrey hadn’t heard that name in a while. She cracked a smile. “Okay. And where are these apartments?”
Smith, as noted on his nametag, pointed his hand toward a map on the wall.
Audrey moved closer and watched as the young man explained where she could find her new home. On base. Not her preference, but she’d deal with it.
“. . . they’re really nice, from what I hear.”
“What?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I missed that.”
“The apartments. You had a funny look on your face, is all. I was just saying that they are new. The people living there say they’re nice.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good. Thank you, Specialist, for your help. If there’s nothing else?”
He shook his head. “No, Agent. Welcome to Fort Huachuca.”
Audrey leaned against her truck and skimmed the letter from Randall. The usual. Where to report, what to wear. Oh, goodie, a detachment run was happening Tuesday morning to k
ick off a visit from the brigade commander. And a debriefing. Of course. She tossed the letter on top of the file in the truck cab and pulled her phone out of her back pocket and tapped the screen. A few seconds later, a chime announced the response. Audrey laughed at the picture of her best friend making a face. Another chime, and she read “Outside waiting.”
She stuffed her phone in her pocket and jumped in the truck. After consulting the map the duty troop gave her, she took off down the road.
Audrey had spent most of her time living away from the installations she was assigned to. She wasn’t looking forward to living in such close quarters with other Soldiers. Even living off post in a large military community offered more opportunity to get away from prying eyes. Life on post was notoriously drama-filled, and maintaining privacy was next to impossible. If she had her way, she’d have lived off post, but the command had overruled her choice.
The apartment complex consisted of three buildings in a triangle shape. They didn’t appear too bad, Audrey decided. She hadn’t lived on post since basic training, and was skeptical about doing so now, given some old barracks she’d seen in her travels. The thought of having one or more roommates made her skin crawl and gave her flashbacks to military school. These were nice, though. The Army finally realized that apartments were the way to go for the single and unaccompanied senior NCOs and officers. Their reasoning was to keep it affordable and keep the leadership close.
Parking ran around the outer ring. Audrey turned left and crept the truck along, looking around. She saw a familiar face grinning at her and swung into the slot next to her. She barely had time to jump out of the truck and turn around before she was attacked.
“Audrey!” The petite woman leaped toward Audrey.
She opened her arms and accepted the hug. “It’s been too fucking long, Charlie.” Tears stung her eyes for a second. It had been over a year since she’d seen her friend, and had this last assignment gone worse—well, she didn’t want to think about it. She squeezed her eyes tight and willed the tears to stop. When she felt Charlie pat her arm, she loosened her grip.
Charlie stepped back and gave her a shrewd once-over before rising on the balls of her feet to peer in the back of the truck. “Okay. Offload and then?”
“Shower first. I need it. PX. Commissary. I’m sick of fast food.” Audrey popped the tailgate of the truck down and scooted two chests and a duffel bag toward the lip of the gate.
Charlie hefted the duffel onto her shoulders and grabbed a trunk. “You’re right on the opposite side of me. We’re on the end.” She pointed at the building. “I’ll share my Wi-Fi with you until you can get your net set up.”
Audrey followed Charlie up the stairs to the second floor and down the breezeway. As they entered the inner courtyard, the sounds of yelling and bass from a stereo filled the air. The center area between the buildings had a couple pavilions with picnic tables, some stationary grills, and a large sand volleyball pit in the middle. A couple dozen people milled about, watching the noisy competition in the pit.
“It won’t be that loud inside,” Charlie said, stopping in front of a door with Audrey’s name on it. “They did a decent job with the insulation on these things.”
Audrey dropped her bag and fished the key out of the packet and quickly unlocked it, stepping in and holding it open for Charlie to enter.
“Just drop those inside the door,” she said as she followed.
She surveyed the room. Standard Army issue couch in a durable mauve fabric. Matching armchair. Standard faux-oak Army issue coffee table and matching end tables. A small fridge and sink were visible in the kitchenette area. She was happy to see a small oven attached to the equally small stove. An ancient desk with a lamp was against the wall, under the row of windows that overlooked the small area between buildings. Lots of good sunlight, but she would get blackout curtains, just in case. Off to the left was the bedroom, and she headed that way to drop off the two suitcases she was lugging. The queen-sized bed she’d pre-ordered was set up already and had a nightstand next to it. She’d need a lamp.
“Hey,” Charlie said. Audrey turned to find a piece of paper thrust toward her. “Here’s the Wi-Fi password. I’m gonna let you get at it and go for a quick run. How long do you need?”
“About an hour,” Audrey looked around. “Eh, make it two. I need to find all my shit.”
After the door closed, Audrey rolled her head around, then her shoulders. She went to the bedroom and flipped open the trunk, snagging her pillow and the bedding she’d packed, and added another set of sheets to her mental shopping list. Her uniforms had survived the trip in their garment bag, and she hung them up and spread them out in the small closet. She added her blouses and skirts, a couple of dresses, and her coats to the closet. An iron and ironing board, she thought, before grabbing her phone and typing out a note to remember it all. Having to replace all these things irked her but having to abandon everything in a hurry made it necessary. She shook off the bitterness of the past and took to settling the dresser. Army t-shirts and socks in one drawer, civilian in the other. Underwear. Each set in a place. Tidy, like her life wasn’t.
She quickly pinned the long, heavy braid that ran down to her hips into a coil around her head, before heading to the bathroom. Her toilet kit was sparse, but then, it always had been. Shampoo, conditioner, soap. Hair gel, face cream, with SPF-100, and body lotion, with the same SPF. Her makeup consisted of a blush stick she could use on her lips and cheeks, and mascara for when she felt extra fancy. She’d never learned to do makeup, and never really cared. Simple was best.
Audrey stripped down and turned on the water. She got one foot into the shower before she remembered the towels and cursed as she shook the water off of it before padding back into the bedroom to dig in a different bag. She tossed one old towel on the floor outside of the shower, and the other on the rack over the toilet.
The scalding water was divine, and she stood there, letting the pulse beat down on her neck and shoulders. She scrubbed away the road grime, but the worries were still stuck to her skin. At least she didn’t feel so much like the bug still smeared on her windshield. After her shower, she dressed quickly in a simple v-neck t-shirt, a pair of shorts that reached mid-thigh, and black trainers. She left her hair wound around her head.
A knock sounded at the door as she was grabbing her keys. Charlie leaned against the railing, looking out over the courtyard. As they walked down the flight of stairs, a voice rang out.
“Madden! Hey, Maaaaaaa-den!” The owner of the voice was a tall, decent looking man. He was shirtless and was sporting a carbon fiber sport prosthesis on his lower left leg. Audrey had heard of him from Charlie. He was one of the first agents back on duty after an IED took his leg in Afghanistan. Standing next to him was another man, also bare chested, and balancing the volleyball on his hip with his arm. Audrey couldn’t see his eyes at all through his black shades, but she could see the large, still red scars down his side. He didn’t look familiar, and she didn’t remember ever hearing about him from Charlie.
He yelled out again, and Charlie stopped and turned. She tossed her hands up in the air. “Later, Ramos. Your thirst can wait.”
Audrey stifled a laugh, and the women continued on the way.
They walked out to Audrey’s truck, and Charlie wrinkled her nose at the pile of coffee cups in the floorboard as she hopped up and kicked them aside. “Good to see that some things never change, Aud.” She flicked a fry off the seat next to her. “Gross.”
“It’s only a few hours old,” Audrey said, looking sideways and waiting for the eye roll. She wasn’t disappointed. “If you point the way, we can stop off and I’ll clean it out, okay?”
“Deal.”
Moments later, they were at a carwash, and Charlie was parked on the railing near the vacuum, watching while Audrey made good on her promise.
As she dumped the last armful into the trash, Audrey asked, “Ramos is the one you’ve told me about, right?”
“Yeah, that’s him.”
Audrey pointed to the center console of the truck. “Hand me the quarters from in there, would you?” She unrolled the long tube of the vacuum from the machine and was flipping a kink out of the line.
Charlie jumped from the railing into the truck and flipped open the center console, surfacing when she found a roll of quarters. She moved back to her spot and tossed the roll to Audrey.
As she pulled out a few from the pack, Audrey asked, “You hook up with him yet?”
“No. You know that’s not going to happen.”
“I just keep hoping for you, Charlie. I want good things for you.” She popped a quarter into the machine and let the noise break that line of conversation.
As she hung up the nozzle, she asked, “What about that other guy?”
“By Ramos? Tall guy, scars?” Charlie motioned with her hand as if to illustrate. “Yeah, that’s Simon. Carwell. He’s an agent, too.”
“Huh. Never heard of him.”
“He was an MP for a lot longer than you were. Transferred in, what, three years ago or so. Details guy. Super smart. He was with Ramos in Afghanistan.”
“You never mentioned him.”
“He’s an excellent agent. Good guy. He mostly keeps to himself these days, except for when they play ball. Why?”
“No reason. A couple of the others look familiar. Just not him.” Audrey finished wiping her hands off and threw the rag in the trash. “Better?”
Charlie looked in the cab of the truck and nodded. “Yeah. I think your truck is fit for society again.”
“Bitch. Let’s go.”
***
They were halfway through Audrey’s list before the place was suddenly flooded with trainees. Audrey cut a few items off of her list for later and they finished as fast as they could.
Wayward (A Soldier's Heart Book 1) Page 1