She hit him with a question he didn’t see coming a mile away. He saw genuine curiosity in her eyes and decided to answer her question truthfully. She deserved an honest answer for the years of service she’d put in. Any other woman he’d have carted off and fucked to shut her up, reporter or not. A male, he’d have steamrolled over with his fists. “The most beautiful woman in the world died and took my heart with her. Every time I step into a kitchen the memories are too much to handle.”
“You should show this side more, you’re hot when you’re real, likeable even. Thank you for allowing me to get personal with you.”
“No problem. Any other questions?”
“Hmm. What are Crimson Rage’s plans after returning to the states?”
“A much needed break. No, we plan on hitting the studio and finishing the work on our next album. Shea and Garrick are traveling to recruit some talent for their label.”
“Concerts?”
“We have a few festivals lined up in late spring and during the summer. Who knows what we’ll add later on down the line. We have a manager who arranges our appearances. We just show up where we’re told.” Jackson grinned. Across the room he noticed Jimmy and a female companion leaving together. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.
“What? You think that because we’re over here we can’t appreciate male perfection?”
“Uh.” Suddenly uncomfortable with how forward she became he took a step back. At any other time he might take her up on her blatant unspoken offer. His mind remained on the woman residing in his home halfway around the world. The last thing he wanted right then was a piece of forgettable ass. Out of the corner of his eye, Garrick and Shea headed toward him.
“Saved by your friends. Getting to know the real you was a genuine pleasure. I know I come off as a bit harsh but I’ve never been one to candy-coat shit. Ask my friends who are going to lay into me after you walk away.”
“Well you did monopolize all of my time here.” Jackson turned his attention to the others at the table. “It was a pleasure meeting all of you. I can’t say this enough. I truly appreciate your sacrifice. He shook each individual’s hand.
“Yo, we have to get going. Met a few special op’s guys who invited us to hang out for a bit.”
“All right. Just finishing up here anyhow. Staff Sergeant Lopez. Be easy on the next guy you interview. Send the write up to my personal email and I’ll approve it for distribution.” He pulled out a business card from his wallet and extended his hand for her to take. Jackson grabbed his trash and headed toward the receptacle with his friends, ignoring their questioning gazes.
“I need to stop by our lodgings for a few minutes. Can ya’ll wait for me for a few? I promise I won’t be long,” he asked while donning his fleece-lined hoodie. He could get used to the warmer climate during the day, but the chilly weather surprised him. Flying over he assumed they’d be in the desert not in barren mountains.
“What’s more important than a secret hidey spot with booze? C’mon man, with Jimmy getting laid, leaves more for the three of us.”
“Jimmy won’t take too long. Well then again he might. Who knows? I’m sure the ladies will get him home safe and sound. Trust me, I need a few minutes nothing more.”
“I thought the net was out.”
“Fuck can a man masturbate in private for a fucking minute. That crazy chick interviewing me made me hard as steel.”
“Damn, bro. TMI, but go take care of that shit, just hurry up.” Garrick chuckled.
The long walk down Command Drive did nothing to diminish the wood he packed. Jackson gave his boys the five finger salute, careful to not insult any other passersby. When they made it to their communal hooch, he went to the room he shared with Jimmy, while the other two waited outside, shooting the shit.
He knew they wouldn’t come in and disrupt him so he had a few moments to himself. Once inside he quickly booted up his laptop and signed into his security link to check on Carlie, wanting to make sure she was safe.
The perfect princess lay in the middle of his bed surrounded by junk food and a carton of ice cream. He noticed a pizza box on the center of the table and boxes of snack cakes. Damn, she was worse off than he expected. She’d become a carnivore again. Worry for her set in. “Carlie, babe, what are you doing to yourself?” he said to himself, knowing she couldn’t hear him.
He quickly sent an email to his maid, Rosalia, to come and stock his house with fresh vegetables and a variety of fruit, Carlie’s favorite foods. When he finished the list, he hit send. Rosa would take care of her broken heart for now.
Next, he sent a quick email to his family’s team of lawyers, giving the name of the magazine and the photographer. He detailed precise instructions to buy the photo rights at whatever cost, including orders to blackball the sleaze from being able to photograph a grain of salt, even if he had to buy the magazine himself. All streaming links, all magazine stands, and any copies left he wanted bought and in his lawyer’s possession to be burned. His personal lawyer replied and promised to have the situation taken care of by the time he returned to the states.
He sighed in relief and dialed Jordan. The little shit let the call go to voicemail. “Jordan, I’m not mad that you opened up my home to Carlie, but damn you could’ve told me. I trust you to keep her privacy to the two of us. I’ll keep track of her from over here until my return. You keep the hound dogs off her scent.” He hit end and stuffed his phone back in his pocket.
Outside, the guys pounded on the door. He ran his hand through his hair, slid his laptop back into the carry case and left the room.
“Fuck man. Took you long enough.”
“Suck me, Shea. Now that you have permanent pussy you’ve become as pansy ass as Garrick.”
“Don’t hate. One day you’ll be in the spot we’re in and won’t be complaining, trust me on that.”
“Says the man who buys tampons and Midol for his woman.”
“Nothing wrong with taking care of my girl. Besides, having a woman by your side day and night means less masturbating and limitless fucking. Get with the program.” Garrick winked.
“So where are we headed?”
“A spot to stay out of trouble for a few hours and just relax.”
“We decide what to do tomorrow?” Jackson leaned back in his seat. “No more throwing my ass under the bus with random shit.”
“C’mon, taking front stage didn’t kill you. The ladies loved it. You know you have the pipes to sing. Don’t know why you hide behind that guitar. Besides when was the last time you played piano?”
Jackson lowered his eyelids into slits. “Piano was a lifetime ago my friend. Let me play my bass and compose in peace. Just because I like to write ballads doesn’t mean I want to perform them. Now let me take over Depraved Indifference.”
“Damn. Don’t go all pussy on me. Just good to know if I fall sick you can take over vocals for the show, but DI is all me. Good try.”
Jackson shrugged. “How are we getting into this private party?”
“I was given directions to the Special Ops Forces compound. One of the SF guys we met at lunch will be waiting at the gate to let us in.”
“I was expecting like a cool code or some BS to tell people back home when they ask what we did on downtime.”
“Dude, we’re doing what we normally do on downtime. Relaxing and hanging out with some bad ass fuckers.”
“Hooah.” During their walk, Garrick practiced saying the word making Jackson crack up. He followed his friends for a night out in the country full of debauchery or some shit kicking fun.
* * * *
Morning, came too soon, reminding Jackson that they were due to board a helo for a meet and greet. Hung over and sleep deprived, he rounded up the guys to make the trek back to their lodgings. Their night out left them without time to grab a bite or a cup of coffee at the chow hall.
Instead, they stopped off in the wagon wheel, the section on base holding the barber shop, Taco Bell and B
urger King for some instant crap, paid, and dragged ass to the meeting spot.
They arrived a short flight later to the base, each one of them carrying a small box of merchandise to sign and hand out and set up at the Chaplain’s area.
“Good Morning, Camp Sentinel. We heard there were some amazing soldiers who couldn’t make the show. Unfortunately we can’t bring the show to you. Hope our ugly mugs will do. We have an hour to sign autographs and shoot the shit before we’re due back for our flight to the US. Let’s get this party started.” Garrick knew how to deliver a line to rev everyone up.
For the next hour, they handed out T-shirts, signed CDs, took photographs, and enjoyed their moments visiting.
Chapter Three
Jackson woke to the feeling of suffocation. Blurry eyed, he looked up into the angry face of his friend with a hand wrapped around his throat. He curled his forearm around the wrist blocking air from his lungs and pried it loose with leverage, clipping Garrick in the chin with his elbow. He took out his ear plugs and focused on his friend, not the loud plane motor heading to Germany.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Jackson wheezed his question.
Garrick cracked his jaw and tackled him over the seat.
“The fuck. Friends don’t lie to each other. What the fuck is going on back home with my sister?” Even up close and personal, he could barely hear Garrick’s rant.
“Man, calm down before they land this bitch and throw us off the fucking plane.” Shea pointed to the officers taking interest in their argument. With the noise, they couldn’t hear what was going on and if his boy didn’t chill out, there would be a situation. Jackson sat up and passed an irritated gaze to his other bandmates. At least they were alone in their own section. Garrick cupped his hand to his ear and spoke loud.
“My voicemail is full, my text messages are full. My family is in an uproar and no one knows where the hell my sister is. Dude, I swear if she’s hurt somewhere I’ll pound your ass into the ground, friend or not, and then I’ll pound the rest of you for keeping me in the dark,” Garrick railed, pointing a finger at each one of them.
“And you wonder why we didn’t tell you in Afghanistan? Seriously? We have seven hours left on this damn plane. The last thing we wanted was you going all Hulk on us.”
“I don’t go that far. What is all this shit online about Carlie?”
“Why are you asking me? And why the hell are you attacking me?” Jackson snarled, removing his seatbelt. “Get out of my face.”
“Shit is getting real.” Shea grabbed Garrick by the back of his arms and pulled him out of Jackson’s personal space. “Take a time out, bro.”
“Told you both we should’ve told him on the base.” Jimmy moved over to help Shea handle their front man. Him being the voice of reason annoyed the hell out of Jackson.
“Carlie made a mistake while she was on break from school and it’s caused a huge stir back home.”
“What kind of mistake?”
“Nothing bad. Well by my definition at least. I mean she’s a college girl and college girls like to experiment and figure out things themselves. That’s what happens when anyone moves away from home for the first time. She just happened to do something publically that got her expelled from college.”
“Carlie is responsible. What the hell could she have done that has my entire family screaming at me through my phone?”
“No one has told you or shown you?” Jackson couldn’t believe that.
“No. Everyone is giving me cryptic texts, not telling me a damn thing. When I called they all evaded every question I asked and it’s pissing me the hell off. I want to know right now. ”
“Like I said…we have seven hours left on this flight and another eight hours from Germany to home. Why don’t you go back to sleep and we can hash over the details of what happened once we land safely in Germany.”
“She posed naked in a magazine,” Jimmy supplied.
Jackson growled and shot him a scathing look. “Thanks, dickhead.”
“Stop lying to me, what really happened?” Garrick shot Jimmy a shut it glare and sat back down, putting his head in his hands.
“She really posed for this guy in Mexico, but, bro, she was beyond wasted drunk when she signed the consent. I’m sorry, but really your family is overreacting.” He wanted to add so is your sister. Instead he remained wisely silent while Garrick processed.
Instead of talking, Garrick withdrew and leaned back in his seat. “I have a baby coming soon, what the fuck am I going to do with a second out of control sister?”
“One drunk mistake doesn’t make her irresponsible. Don’t judge her. I think the rest of your family is doing enough of that, so much so she won’t go home.”
“I just want to know she’s okay so my family can calm down.”
“Remember when we were caught with open containers and drunk out of our minds doing donuts on the ATVs. The park ranger didn’t put us in jail. He hauled us into his office, gave us all coffee and then called my dad. We got off lucky, and we haven’t had a drink unless we know who’s driving or keep our own keys since. Lesson learned. We were lucky because we weren’t signed yet with the label.”
“Yeah. We’ve been some wild assholes and we’re okay. But fuck, she is my baby sister, who wants to think of their sister posing in some trashy magazine?”
“Who wants to see their brother’s drunk pasty ass fucking a slut against an alley wall? And there was video of that too. Your dad got over it. I’m just sayin’ perfect princess is going to need her brother’s support not another warden ready to slam her in solitary.”
“Why are you taking her side in this?”
“Someone has to.” Jackson didn’t want to let them know Carlie was at his place suffering through depression alone. He’d hoped her time there would give her some perspective and she’d drag herself out of the funk. She had too much fight in her to go the dramatic route, like her twin would.
“You’re into her.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Hell no. I don’t do virgins or friends’ sisters. That’s just crossing the line of no return.”
“I heard that.” Shea popped him in the back of the head.
“If the shoe fits.” Jackson smirked. Shea and Carrie belonged together, everyone knew it.
“Cut it. Every time someone mentions her name you act all funny, and now you’re all on my case for being concerned and pissed at her.”
“Dude, I’m not explaining myself to you and you aren’t acting mad or concerned, you’re acting like a douche dick, as if you’ve never done a stupid thing in your life. Big difference.”
“Good. Keep your mind games away from my sister.”
Anger surged through Jackson. Garrick pulled no punches but when he was right, he was dead on. “I don’t want your sister.”
“Until you convince yourself you do. Like what was her name, Kellie. Yeah, you didn’t want that barely legal girl and you still fucked her and left her the next day after spending a day talking yourself into her bed.”
“She was no innocent flower. And I never lie to my lovers. They know my game and choose to suck me or let me fuck them, no strings, no seconds, if they get attached that’s on them.”
“Just keep your dick away from my sister.”
“Don’t get all hostile. I told you I’m the last one you should worry about popping that sweet virgin ass. Now can I fucking go back to sleep?” Jackson grabbed his pillow, the blanket and turned his back on his mate. He didn’t really want Carlie. If she got someone else to fuck her first, maybe then. He didn’t want the responsibility of being the first, there were always emotional repercussions with that. He believed if he told himself those words enough times, they’d ring true.
“When we land I’m taking two weeks to go home. Goodnight.” Jackson closed the world out.
* * * *
The smell of ocean welcomed him. He stepped out of his service car, hoisted his backpack and clicked the handle on his sui
tcase. Why carry something that had rollers. The house was dark in the early afternoon, making him wonder if he still had a houseguest.
He entered and placed his things in the foyer. Emotions long forgotten tugged at him. Every time he stepped foot in his childhood house, he expected to see his mother come down the stairs to greet him with a warm smile on her face, smelling like an afternoon spent baking. And, as always, reality cruelly crashed down, reminding him of fate’s viciousness. With a sigh, he looked toward the staircase. Carlie. Carlie. Carlie.
Jackson walked up the stairs, toward his bedroom, noting how everything looked to be in in place, as if Carlie didn’t dare disturb anything. He passed by his mom’s bedroom, now a guest room. He ruminated on things, what to say, what would her reaction be to seeing him?
What he loved most about flying was sleeping, but thanks to one overprotective brother he barely rested at all, with his mind obsessing over the sweet woman in his bed.
A foul odor hit his nose upon opening the door to his bedroom. He ignored the stink and approached his bed covered in chocolate wrappers, empty bags of fast food and the girl sleeping on top of the covers in the same clothes he saw her in online while he was in Afghanistan.
Garrick always boasted of his ‘sleep like the dead’ sisters. He decided to test out the theory. He tapped her and got nothing. He picked her up. Her head lolled over, a halo of hair fanning out. A loud snore popped out of her mouth. He tried to smooth her tangled hair out of the way and carried her into his bathroom. With one hand, he turned on the shower and stepped into the cold water fully dressed, holding her.
Carlie screamed. Her beautiful eyes popped opened as she came to and began thrashing in his arms.
“Sorry, princess. You need a shower, you stink.” Jackson whipped her soaking wet shirt over her head and unsnapped her bra with one hand while she shivered and glared daggers at him. He bent down and whisked off her leggings and thong, and then threw all the pieces out of the shower.
“What are you doing?” Carlie hissed the words thorough chattering teeth. She gave up attempting to cover her nudity with her hands and wiped her plastered hair away from her eyes.
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