My Soldier: A Miliatary Romance

by Holt, Leah

  Chapter Twenty

  Levi

  “What's your name soldier?” His hands moved around my thigh; squeezing, pushing, incinerating the muscle with each touch.

  “Hite,” I said through gritted teeth. My thigh burned, the intense pain clawing its way up my back and over my toes.

  “Alright, Hite, I'm going to get you out of here. But I'm going to need you to stand, can you do that?”

  The bullets popped around us, dirt and dust filling the tiny room we took for protection.

  I could hear the loud yell of foreign voices, angry yelps and hoots as the gunfire broke around us.

  “Yeah, I can try.” Breathing in slow, I tried to focus on getting up and ignoring the shattered glass feeling of my leg.

  “Okay, good. I'm bandaging your leg the best I can for now, but you need a doctor. Man, your leg looks like shit.”

  “Thanks, I was trying to go for the tough guy look.”

  “Good, a sense of humor. You need that here. Alright, wrap your arm around my neck.”

  Throwing my arm around his head, the unknown soldier grunted as he lifted me to my feet. The pain intensified as I tried to put a little weight on my foot.

  Biting down hard, I grabbed the wound. “I don't know if I can do this. It hurts like a fucking bitch.”

  “You don't have a choice, do you want to live?” The man leaned into my face, his eyes full of fear and desperation to get us back to safety. “I have my unit waiting a few blocks over. They're holding it down, but if we're going to go, we need to go now.”

  Nodding, my jaw was chattering against my teeth as the throbbing pain hit the nerves.

  Using my free hand, I threw my gun over my shoulder and yanked my knife off the belt.

  “Alright, on the count of three we head north, there's a blind spot three buildings over. You got that?”

  “Yeah, let's fucking go. I'm not dying here like this. Fuck these assholes.” Holding my knife up, the soldier popped his head out the open doorway, looking side to side.

  “One, two, three!” He yelled, gripping an arm around my back. Hopping on my good leg, the torn up one dragged behind us.

  The scream I let out was one I could never recreate. It was pure pain, anguish, fear, and rage all balled up into one lung-filled burst.

  The short scramble to the next safe zone seemed endless. Bullets pierced the ground around us, the sand billowing up into tiny dust clouds.

  I'm not going to lie, I was lucky I didn't shit my pants.

  Diving into the shadow of cover, I couldn't breathe. My lungs were filled with debris and granules of sand.

  “Fuck, that wasn't fun.” Clenching my thigh, I did my best to fight off the fire hitting the muscle.

  “We still have a ways to go, how you holding up?”

  “I'm breathing right?”

  “Damn straight. I'm getting you out of here, Hite.” The man looked younger than me, but his ability to keep calm and focused was well beyond his years.

  Tearing his radio off his belt, he yelled to his men. The raspy broken voices fired back in return.

  And they sounded more stressed than the man beside me; the man who was saving my fucking life.

  “Are they still there?” I asked, inhaling as much air as I could to calm my chest, and the pain creeping in.

  “Yeah, but they said we got a couple guys heading our way. We've got to move.”

  Curling my arm around the muscle of his neck, we ducked back out and onto the street.

  Turning the corner, we both stopped dead in our tracks.

  ***

  The sun had started to fade, sinking its massive body behind the skyline. The bright oranges and yellows radiated through the blue sky, hitting and splashing colors across the buildings around me.

  I thought about taking my recon by foot, but this town had plenty of places for a man like Vito to hide.

  So, my car was the best option, it also gave me some cover so he wouldn't spot me right away. Hopefully.

  This needed to be a surprise, I had to come in quick and fast. There wasn't going to be any time for exchanges of words, no time for him to grab backup for help.

  My plan was to move quick, move hard, and make him beg me for forgiveness.

  And depending on how sincere his apology ended up would decide his fate. All I could do was hope he showed me an ounce of pure regret for what he did.

  If not, then there would be no mercy on my end.

  I've been face to face with men who were more evil than this tiny prick. I hated thinking about that day, about that moment...

  But when it's life or death; and it's your life you're fighting for, the decision was anything but necessary in the moment.

  A man can do unforgivable acts to keep living. But that didn't mean it wasn't relived everyday and I didn't pray for forgiveness.

  God knows I did.

  Coasting down the street, I made my way around the area of town that was supposed to be filled with crime and pure shit.

  There were no other words to describe the hot spot for filth. It was exactly what you'd expect; dirt, drugs, and nasty pussy.

  Girls hung around the corners, waving their hands as I passed by, trying to flag me down for a quickie. Hoping for a few measly bucks in their pockets, most likely to hit their next high or alcohol binge.

  Either way, these girls didn't look like the ones you'd want to let loose with for a night of fun.

  Their hair was dirty, slicked back with the oils they never washed out. The short dresses were tattered and dull, outlines of under fed ribs protruded from their sides.

  And the undeniable red track lines rode their arms like a painted body suit.

  Rolling to a stop, I lowered the window. “Hey, how you ladies doing tonight?” I asked.

  One woman walked over, her oversized heels shook and rocked beneath her legs. “Hey, Cutie, you looking for a little company tonight?”

  “Yeah, I am. But I need to find Vito, you happen to know where he might be?”

  Her eyes rolled, jaw slanting to the side. “Vito? Fuck Vito, you don't need his girls. You can have all this for way less.” Her tongue dragged across her teeth, highlighting her lack of dental care.

  Shivering with disgust, I tried to keep my stomach from expelling everything inside. “Thanks, Doll, but I owe him a bit of money. So if you could point me in his direction that would help,” I said, hoping she'd understand and just finger where he was.

  If Vito was a major player in the world of underground sex, this woman would know exactly where to find him. Even if she wasn't one of his girls.

  “You a cop?” Her brow raised, hand drifting to her hip. She wavered on her feet, her legs doing all they could to keep her standing straight.

  “Fuck no, Baby. I just need to find him, then maybe I'll come back, give you a chance to make me rethink using Vito's girls.”

  The extremely slender woman's shoulders relaxed, rolling forward as she leaned over to my window. “Alright, Handsome.” Sliding a finger over my shoulder, she tilted her head. “So long as you promise to keep me in mind.”

  Gross, no. Never. Not a chance in hell.

  “Absolutely. So where is he now?” I was willing to tell her whatever I needed to just to get a hair closer to the man who put his unearned hands on Avni.

  He never had the right to touch her, she wasn't his.

  “Vito's been hanging up at Dylan st. You should find him there.” Kissing two fingers, she pressed the tips against my cheek. “See you soon, Baby.”

  Nodding, I tossed her a forced smile. When in reality, I wanted to burn my cheek; sanitize it with alcohol and caustic acid. Anything to clean my skin and remove the touch of pure maladies.

  Raising the window, I let my face disappear behind the tint. The sky had turned mop water gray, the vibrant colors now dissipating as the dark clouds rolled in.

  Turning right onto Dylan, I crept up the street slowly, eyes scanning wildly for his sleek black car.

  Then it
happened; his face, his evil eyes set deep inside the sockets. He had stepped out of an unmarked building, head twisting as he looked around over his shoulders.

  His signature car was tucked between two trucks, barely visible until you were right on top of it.

  Squeezing a death grip around my steering wheel, my knuckles drained white. The force of blood redirected to my pounding chest. It took everything I had to not leap from my car right there.

  But he had a cluster of men around him, too many for me to take all at once. Pulling off to the curb, I watched and waited.

  Vito was laughing, his arms throwing tight side hugs around his buddies.

  I'm going to beat the fucking piss out him. And when I'm done, I'll beat him again.

  Rage was swimming across my brain, turning every inch of my body into a savage huntsman. Vito became my game, and the only weapon would be my hands.

  I wanted to feel him fear me, feel him regret laying a hand on Avni.

  When my fingers were finally wrapped tightly around his neck, and his breathing became labored; when his face struggled to catch a gulp of air, and his eyes were begging me to cut him loose; then and only then would I have his life in my hands and decide his fate.

  He was just going to have to decide how sorry he was for what he did.

  Maybe he would even recapture images of other women he had hurt in his past; their faces would stream in, crying for him to show them mercy.

  And when he didn't, when he had passed out whatever punishment he'd felt necessary, I hoped he'd feel the same pain as them.

  I was going to be the judge, jury, and executioner for his crime.

  Glaring through blackened glass, Vito climbed into his car. Alone.

  Alone, perfect.

  The rev of his engine charged my nerves, blood thrashing through my veins as the adrenaline surged. Turning onto the street, Vito took off.

  And I followed.

  I wasn't sure when or how I was going to make my entrance. Maybe if he turned down a more secluded street, or maybe when he stopped at the next red light. I didn't know, but when the moment was right, I planned on striking.

  But to catch your prey, patience was key.

  If I let my emotions control me effortlessly, then I would have charged him outside on the street. With my luck, the surrounding gang would've jumped me and hung me out to dry. One man against twelve was not a fair fight.

  This was between Vito and me. And he had no clue I was on his trail ready to strike at any moment.

  Trying to keep my distance, I wanted to follow him with the hope he wouldn't notice me there. This needed to be a complete and utter surprise. But that's not how it went down, and I shouldn't have been stupid enough to think it would go smooth.

  Nothing went smooth for me, ever.

  The last flicker of sunlight reflected off the inside of his car, lighting up his rearview mirror. And my face in the car behind him.

  Fuck! I was too close.

  Even from where I was I watched his eyes expand, lip curling up in anger. His face shifted between the side mirror and the rearview mirror, his neck wildly twisting as he was trying to get his brain to register who was trailing him.

  The roar of his engine grew louder, taillights shrinking as he picked up speed.

  A chase? I'm going to have to chase this motherfucker?!

  I didn't care, I was going to do whatever I needed to catch him. He wasn't getting away that easily.

  Gripping my wheel tighter, my foot turned into dead weight. Pressing full force on the throttle, I sped up on the ass of his black sports car.

  I could see him mouthing curse words in his mirror, middle finger flying out the driver's side window, and waving wildly in the wind.

  Grinning, my gimlet eyes turned crimson with fury. Clamping my hands tighter around the leather, I floored the pedal.

  Vito might have had a quick sports car, but I had determination; and not an ounce of fear.

  The squeal of rubber against the pavement broke the air. Deep charcoal smoke billowed from under Vito's car. Squinting my eyes, I drove through blindly, unsure of what rested beyond the fog. As the smoke cleared, Vito's car had flipped around the corner.

  It was resting on the roof, his lifeless body hanging upside down. Slamming on my brakes, I tore myself from my car and stormed over to him.

  My foot broke through the glass, his limp body sat motionless. But even his lack of movement didn't stop my rage. Tearing him from his seatbelt, I yanked Vito through the broken window.

  I didn't need to check and see if he was breathing, the long groan he let out as I dropped him to the ground was enough.

  Hovering over him like a threatening storm, a lackluster smile emerged behind thin lips, fists curling with icy contempt.

  Vito slowly opened his eyes, a bloody grin spilling under his swelling nose. “Look who came out to play. How nice of you to join me for some fun.” His evil laugh hit my ears, my brain singeing with pure hatred. “How's your girl? Did you enjoy the new look I gave her?”

  In one thrust, my fists began to fly. Punch after punch they rained down, crashing into his softened bones.

  Even if I wanted to stop them, I couldn't. There was so much anger filling my insides, I didn't even see the man beneath me.

  Suddenly, a loud pop echoed through the trees. The sound was familiar, the scent even more of a reminder. Metal and sulfur; it was gunfire.

  Looking down, my shirt began to soak and drown in red. Holding my hand to my ribs, I felt the warm trickle flow down my skin.

  I've been shot. Fuck, again?

  The pain was blinded by the blanket of adrenaline that had formed a hardened bubble around my body.

  The sound of sirens rang off in the distance, the loud whirring drawing closer each second.

  My body was working on nothing but disdain and redemption. I wasn't done with Vito yet, and he certainly wasn't going to win this.

  Even if I died. I was going to die fighting for her, fighting for Avni.

  It was ending here, she wasn't going to fear for her life anymore.

  My muscles firmed, tensing instinctively under the skin. I was in autopilot, a rage- fueled, love-fueled junkie.

  And nothing, not even a fucking bullet was going to stop me. Not until I knew she would be safe.

  Growling under my breath, my eyes zeroed in on Vito. His gun had jammed, fingers wildly trying to fix the clip.

  That was my chance, that was my opening from the world above, giving me a clear and generous nod at what I was about to do.

  A voice filled my head, the natural sounds around me faded out.

  Now! Now! Do it!

  Launching myself forward, I knocked the gun from his hands. Vito's eyes lit in disbelief, the first real look of fear I'd seen him with.

  He had gotten so used to being unstoppable, so laced in the world he built around himself that he felt unbeatable.

  Vito thought he was immune to others, a god in a world built for the feeble minded.

  So much of his time was spent clenching the weaknesses of those around him, never expecting he'd get knocked off his high horse.

  Driving my knee into his neck, a gurgled yell filled his throat. The world around me was starting to go hazy, blackness was filing in the edges. I was losing a lot of blood and it was taking its toll on my body.

  Vito's arms thudded against my chest, my head, crashing down onto my back. But that's all they were; thuds. Weak, frail hits that I didn't feel; that I wouldn't feel.

  I wasn't going to stop until I collapsed, or someone came to drag me off of him. I didn't know how many times I hit him, how many times I kicked him, all I knew was that my hands had no feeling left.

  My chest was fighting to keep air going in, my mouth was fighting to keep my throat moving the oxygen down, and my head was fighting to stay conscious.

  The tunnel was closing in around my eyes, the small opening barely large enough for light to filter in.

  With one final blow to Vito's h
ead, the world around me went silent. The night took over my eyes in a warped hole of nothingness.

  No light, no stars, no sounds.

  Nothing.

  And I wondered if I had died.

  Had the bullet pierced my heart? Had it hit an artery?

  Voices hummed inside my head, but that's all they were. Faceless voices in the deepest shadow of darkness.

  Until it all faded away.

  And there was nothing.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Avni

  “Hello?” A long pause filled my ears, white noise crackling through the speaker. “Hello? Levi, is that you?”

  But there was nothing. The deep baritone voice I hoped would fill my head was a barren wasteland of dead sound.

  Where is he? I need to talk to him. Fuck, Levi!

  He wouldn't answer my calls, my texts went unread and trashed. Levi had run off in such a huff I didn't even get the chance to tell him why I needed him to stay.

  His pigheaded reaction caused his protective nature to take hold. In other words, his balls grew three sizes and over took his brain.

  He was a man on a war path, Romeo taking on the Capulets by force. And I was afraid, afraid for his safety, afraid of what he might do...

  If he killed Vito, he'd be no better off than if Vito killed him. His life would still end, he'd be exiled to his last breaths behind bars.

  And I would be alone, again.

  The one and only thing I hated and wanted to avoid at all costs.

  The jingle of my phone sent a tremor through my muscles. Looking down, I didn't recognize the number.

  “Hello?” I asked, unsure if I was about to hear the voice of my enemy.

  My chest had seized, frozen to the thought that Vito's rough tone might fly through the speaker. The sound of his voice would send a shrill, vile sting into my heart. And if he tried to reprimand me for Levi, for whatever he tried to do...

  I'd die right there.

  “Is this Avni?” A woman asked, her soft voice was comforting and calming.

  In the same instance her voice brought on nerves, my stomach churning and moving in unnatural flips against my ribs. “Yes, this is Avni.”

  “Hi, Avni. My name is Diane, Diane Hite.”