“Hey, boys,” I said as I strolled up.
Max grunted then placed the barbell on the hooks. He sat up and stared at me with a disgusting lusty look on his face. While not afraid to apply my female charms when needed, I never took it too far. Most of the time, I got the information I needed. Max might help me break the story wide open.
“What’s going on, foxy reporter?” he said, standing up.
The other man wandered away, leaving Max and I alone.
“Your CO is making me go home early.”
I pouted briefly.
“Get out of here. We were just getting to know each other.”
“I had an idea. Do you want to be in the story I’m writing? It would be a profile piece online. You’d get a lot of fan mail from women all over the world.”
“Who says I don’t get that already?” he asked, stepping toward me.
“Well, it would be even more with a nice story online.” He stopped in front of me. “Maybe some photos.”
“You want to take photos of me?”
“Maybe later. I need information first.”
I glanced to the left and right then back to his face, that ugly, stupid mug.
“Information?” he asked, a puzzled expression on his face.
He was a grunt, not too smart.
“Yeah, about what goes on here at the base.”
“What have you heard?”
Does he actually know something?
“Nothing specific, but you’re the real big man on base.”
A smile spread over his face as he lifted an arm and flexed his muscles.
“Impressive,” I cooed. “You have time to talk?”
“Not now,” he said. “Give me an hour.”
“Um, sure. At the mess hall?”
“No, I’ll come to your quarters.”
“I don’t think…”
Before I finished, he turned and walked away.
“Dammit,” I muttered.
Oh well. I can handle him.
*
Well over an hour later, someone knocked on my door.
“Hold on,” I said, standing up.
I crossed the room and stopped.
Be strong, I told myself as I took a deep breath.
After opening the door, I saw Max dressed in camo pants and a tight green tee-shirt, all standard issue. He grinned and stepped forward. I had no other choice but to step back and allow him in.
“You made it,” I said.
“I keep my word.”
As he shut the door behind him, a sense of dread rushed through my body.
“Have a seat, and I’ll pull up my list of questions,” I said, walking to the desk.
He stepped over and closed the laptop lid while looking into my eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“We can do the interview after.”
“After what?”
I narrowly avoided his kiss as he lurched forward.
“Whoa. Hold on a minute,” I said, stepping back toward my bed.
“The hard-to-get act is getting old,” he said, his voice thick.
“Are you drunk?”
He laughed.
“Alcohol isn’t allowed on the base. How would I get some?”
“Smuggling,” I said, staring into his eyes, wishing I could read his thoughts.
“What do you know about smuggling?” he asked as he stepped toward me.
I took a step sideways, toward the door.
“It’s happened during wars throughout history.”
“Yeah? Well, Afghanistan ain’t no war. It’s a hell-hole all the time.”
As he spoke, I continued sliding toward the door.
“Where are you going?” he asked. “You afraid of me or something?”
Or something, I thought but said nothing. What have I gotten myself into now?
“Come on,” he begged. “You want this hot body.”
He lifted his shirt off, showing the ridiculously huge muscles.
“You’re not my type. No hard feelings, though.”
Two more steps to the door…
“Oh, I’ve got hard feelings,” he said with a nasty grin.
I reached out to put my hand on the doorknob, ready to run away. He stumbled forward, pressing his palm against the door, holding it shut.
“Where you running off to, beautiful?”
“You need to leave,” I said firmly.
Do not show fear. Do not show fear. Do not…
“Look, you fucking cock-tease. You’ve been playing Cooper and me both, and that’s not right. If you want information for your damn story, it’ll cost you. He’s not the man you think he is.”
“What do you mean? Is he involved in the smuggling?”
He sighed.
“There you go with the damn smuggling again. All you do is ask questions. Time for you to give some up.”
“What the hell are you talking about? You’re not making any sense.”
The moment he reached out to grab my arm with his hand, I screamed, hoping someone noticed.
SEVEN
Cooper
When I heard her scream, I leapt into action, rushing toward her CHU. The lights were on, but I had no idea what was happening inside. Had she seen a rat or something?
The door burst open, and she ran outside. Max lumbered out right behind her, a sick and demented smile on his face. I slowed down, stopping near Jade.
“What’s wrong?”
“You need to teach your boy some manners,” she said, pointing at Max.
He smirked.
“What did you do?” I demanded.
“Nothing you don’t want to do with her,” he said, puffing out his chest.
I stepped forward, pressing mine against his. He stood a few inches taller than me, but I wasn’t afraid of fighting him in the least. Brain won over brawn all the time.
“What the fuck did you to do her?”
“Nothing happened,” Jade said, grabbing my arm with both her hands.
She pulled at me, but I didn’t budge, standing my ground.
“You like me, don’t you babe?”
Max patted her ass with his hand.
“Hey!” she said.
“That’s it you son of a bitch.”
I swung and punched him dead on the temple.
He growled and bent into a defensive stance, his fists up.
“Knock it off you two,” Jade cried.
“She’s right.” I lowered my hands.
“Too late for that, punk.”
He lunged, hitting me with an uppercut to the jaw.
“Why are we fighting?” I asked, not wanting to get into it with him.
“Because you need to know who’s the alpha around here.”
I dodged out of the way as he swung again, missing completely.
He threw his arms up as I punched again, hitting his forearm.
“What the fuck, guys!” Logan yelled as he ran toward us.
“Max needs to get the fuck out of here and not come back.”
I kept my hands up as I bobbed up and down, waiting for him to take another crack at me.
Logan stepped in between us. Jade stood stoic looking pissed as hell.
“All of you need to leave,” she said.
I stared at Max, daring him to make a move.
He put his hands down, grinning like an idiot.
“I’m out of here.”
As he approached the door, I stepped aside.
“That’s better,” Logan said, following him.
I hung back, looking across the sand at Jade.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
The other two men walked awake from the quarters.
She took a deep breath, shaking her head.
“I came because you were yelling. I’ll go.”
“No, wait,” she said, putting her hand on my arm.
“Yeah?”
“I’m leaving soon, and you seem to have little time for that romantic
date you promised me. I need something to remember Afghanistan by.”
I smiled, my heart still racing.
“Fine. I’ll stop by tomorrow. If you need anything just yell. I’ll come running.”
“Clearly.”
“He won’t bother you again. I can promise that.”
She moved her hand away. I missed her touch.
“Have a good night, Jade.”
“You too, Cooper.”
I walked outside her CHU, closing the door behind me. The half-full moon had risen in the sky as I walked to the sleeping quarters I shared with Logan.
I saw Max standing outside the door. He punched his fist into the palm of his other hand and shrugged his shoulders a few times.
Do you want more? I’ll give it to you.
He tilted his head back and puffed out his chest. I stopped in front of him.
“We can’t be fighting over pussy, bro.”
“I’m not fighting over anything.”
“Oh, so you didn’t sucker punch me?”
He laughed.
“What do you want, Max?”
“I want to make sure you don’t open your stupid mouth to that reporter chick about what we got going on.”
“What you got going on,” I said. “I’ve told you I want nothing to do with it anymore.”
“And I’ve said you don’t have a choice in the matter.”
His chest bumped against mine as he stepped forward.
“Hey, Cooper,” Logan called from behind Max. “You coming in, bro?”
“I’ll be there in a second,” I said. “Me and Max have some stuff to work out.”
“Alright, man. No more of that fighting bullshit.”
“He said go inside!” Max yelled, not taking his eyes off mine.
The door closed. I concentrated on my breathing.
“Max, I mean it. I’m done. My tour is over soon, and I’ll be going home.”
“You’ll sign up again.”
“No, Max, I’m won’t.”
His lip twitched.
“Look, I won’t say anything to Jade or anyone else. I’m implicated in this mess myself.”
“Damn right you are,” he said. “Don’t forget that shit.”
“Go get some sleep. And cut down on the Steroids. That shit is making you crazy,” I said glancing at the door Logan had left open.
“Maybe, but I’m buffer than any mother fucker in Afghanistan.”
“Whatever, man. I’m going to bed. Lay off the reporter, okay? We don’t want any extra eyes on either of us right now. She’ll be leaving in a few days.”
“Yeah?”
“That’s what she said. Captain is sending her home.”
Max grinned.
“You had nothing to do with that, did you?”
He patted me on the shoulder.
“Later, man.”
I watched as he walked away to his CHU. Did I need to stay up all night and make sure he didn’t go back to mess with Jade? I decided against it. Instead, I laid in my bed and came up with something somewhat romantic for my date with the reporter.
With luck, I hoped to fuck her under the open sky on the foothills of the mountains. If nothing else, I would distract her until she left our camp and lives for good. Then I could get out of the smuggling operation. One step at a time, I told myself as I fell asleep.
One step at a time.
EIGHT
Cooper
When I saw the smile and look of amazement on her face, all the effort and trouble I’d gone through was worthwhile. I had even called in favors from three different people at FOB Cobra.
“This is so beautiful,” she said, looking at the valley below and the mountain range in the distance.
“Right? It’s a shame this country is besieged by so much war.” I sat down on the blanket. “Here, have a glass of wine and some cheese.”
She sat next to me, her knees bent and her feet further down the hill. I poured her a glass of red wine as she stared out at the landscape.
“What’s that over there?” she asked, pointing.
I glanced up. Shit.
“The Chinese, I think.”
“The Chinese? I didn’t know they had troops here.”
“They don’t,” I said. “Here you go.”
I handed her a glass of wine.
“Thanks.”
She took a drink.
“I wonder what they’re doing over there.”
“Probably mining?”
“Mining? What, like gold?”
“You sure do ask a lot of questions.”
I grinned, wondering if she sensed the electricity between us.
“It’s my job. I’m sorry. I get so curious. I’ll ask Max about it later.”
“No, don’t,” I said.
She tilted her head.
“No? Why not?”
“They’re just miners,” I said. “No big deal.”
“I wonder what they’re mining.”
“Rare Earth minerals.”
“What are those?”
“The shit they use to make cell phones and electronics.”
“Oh, like platinum and whatnot.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
We both stared out at the majestic landscape.
“It’s so beautiful. I’m at a loss for words.”
“That’s something for you,” I teased.
“Hey.”
She leaned over and lightly punched me on the arm.
I took another drink, wishing we had more wine.
“Refill?” I asked, picking up the bottle.
“I shouldn’t.”
“Come on. One more glass won’t hurt.”
“I’m not a big drinker. This one already has me a bit dizzy.”
“More for me,” I said, shrugging.
“Okay,” she relented, holding out her half-empty glass. “One more. A small one.”
I filled the glass to the brim. She pulled it away, giggling.
“So, how is this for romantic?” I asked.
She stared straight ahead, nodding ever so slightly.
“Yeah…It’s nice.”
I smiled, putting my hand on her back and rubbed.
She moaned then said, “That feels good.”
“Yeah? Hold on. I’m actually pretty good at this.”
Unable to set my glass down on the hill without it spilling, I emptied the contents in one massive gulp. She smiled as I crawled behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders, kneading her flesh.
“Oh, wow…” she said.
“You’re so tense.”
“You don’t even know the half of it.”
“What’s a beautiful woman like you have to be worried about?”
She leaned forward.
“Come on, you don’t want to be like Max, do you?”
“I’m nothing like him,” I said, working her muscles with my thumbs.
“Oh, don’t stop,” she said.
Now that I had her not thinking about the mining operation across the way, I prepared to make a play. The fact that the Chinese operation would be in view had slipped my mind, but I would make up for it.
As I massaged her, I bent my head down and kissed her on the neck.
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” she asked, pulling away.
“Come on, you can’t say you don’t feel it.”
“You are just like him,” she said, standing up. “You two got some sick bet on who can bed me first or something?”
“Settle down. Don’t act crazy.”
“I’m not crazy!” she said, heated.
I glanced over at the Humvee.
“Don’t yell,” I said. “This area isn’t completely safe.”
“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You brought me out here to fuck me and it’s not even safe?” Her eyes opened wide. “You didn’t drug the wine, did you? Oh my God, I’m feeling faint. You fucking drugged me, didn’t you!”
“Cal
m down,” I said, standing up. “I would never drug a woman. You think I need to be a Cosby when I got a body like this?”
“Why am I so lightheaded right now?”
“It’s the mountain air. You probably haven’t adjusted all the way.”
I stepped forward and put a hand on her waist.
“Get away from me.”
She stepped back and flung the rest of the wine in her glass to the ground. The parched earth soaked it up greedily. I sighed. Why don’t things ever go the way I plan?
“We should get back,” I said, bending to pick up the blanket.
“Yes, we should,” she said as if it had been her idea.
I shook my head, gathering up the food and putting it back into the basket. She had already made it to the Humvee by the time I finished.
After throwing the stuff in the back, I climbed in.
“I freaked out. I’m sorry. I have got nothing on this story I’m supposed to be doing, and now I’m being sent back even sooner than my short stay was originally going to be.”
“You haven’t? I thought that’s why I took you to the village.”
“That’s not the story I’m really working on.”
We stared at each other from across the front cab of the Humvee. I shook my head and turned the key in the ignition. The engine fired to life.
“You’re something else,” I said.
“Hold on. Don’t you want to know what story I’m working on?”
“I can imagine. Something about the military being corrupt, or…”
“The smuggling,” she interrupted. “I know about it.”
I turned the vehicle off and looked over at her.
“Are you involved?” she asked.
“Is this off the record?”
“Sure.”
Can I trust her?
“You don’t want to be digging in this, okay? It goes high up the food chain. There are billions of dollars at stake. Do you even understand what you’re getting yourself into?”
“Billions of dollars? That’s a lot of drugs.”
“Don’t you get it?” I shook my head. “It’s not drugs. They’re smuggling rare earth minerals back to America and China. Both countries are making a bundle. Why do you think the Afghanistan war has dragged on so long. Do you see an army anywhere capable of defeating us if we put our mind to it?”
“There are a lot of caves in the mountains,” she said.
“Fuck those caves. The only reason we’re still here is to protect the Chinese and American civilians who are pillaging the mountains like there’s no tomorrow.”
“You need to tell me more,” she said, her hungry eyes staring into mine.
“I said too much already.”
Mr. Charming_A Mistaken Identity Bad Boy Romance Page 18
