by C. J. Thomas
Fear hardened my stomach. “What if Gary knows what I did and is setting me up by inviting Trevor?”
Monica snorted loudly. “Then that asshole deserves to die.”
I wanted to smile. Instead, I asked, “If I go talk to Trevor, what are you two going to do?”
Sophia leaned forward. “What did you say the name of Gary’s ex was again?”
25
Trevor
I didn’t bother to turn around when I heard the heavy boots chasing after me.
“Trev, wait up,” Evan called.
Pushing my sunglasses over my eyes, I kept my strides long in an effort to get to my motorcycle as fast as possible. “Keep the Mustang. I don’t need it.”
He caught up and marched right along with me. “What are you going to say?”
His cowboy hat shaded his eyes. “Haven’t figured it out yet.”
“You need back-up?”
Though I could have laughed, Evan was serious. “This isn’t a raid.”
“Maybe not, but it should be. The way you described what he did to your girl, I want to hurt him.”
“She’s not my girl.” Even if I want her to be.
“Not yet.” He gave a curt nod. “But I can see it in your eyes. You want her to be.”
I ducked my head, not sure what to call Sienna. We barely knew each other, but there was something there. Evan was right about that. When we were together, the world was a brighter place. She made me want to be a better man—be the man to protect her from assholes like Gary.
“Do you love her?”
I hit the brakes and came to a sudden stop. Turning to face Evan, I quirked a brow.
“Simple question.” His mouth curved into a grin. “Do you love her?” he asked again.
My heart began to race and I could feel my pulse ticking in the tips of my fingers. It was a simple question, one I should be able to answer, but it was too early for me to know for sure. “I don’t know.” But what I did know was that she was special.
He pulled his chin into his neck and shook his head. “How can you not know?”
“I just met her,” I said, slapping him on his shoulder.
Spinning on a heel, I picked up my pace and passed Noah’s beamer.
Evan followed. “But there must have been a connection.”
“She’s getting married.” My flinty eyes silently told him to shut up.
Evan clamped his hand on my shoulder and spun me around. “Not if you stop her.”
My nostrils flared. “This isn’t your fight.”
He leaned closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Let me come with you. We can take the Mustang. I need to see this bastard for myself.”
I locked on his hard gaze, knowing my cousin was only wanted to help. I watched his jaw twitch with shared anger. As much as I appreciated the support, I shook my head.
His lips pressed tightly together as the crown of his head lifted to the sky.
Swatting his hand off my shoulder, I marched the rest of the way to my bike uninterrupted. I grabbed the helmet off the back, swung my leg over the seat, and secured the helmet strap beneath my chin as Evan just stood and watched.
“Please, Trevor.” Evan rooted his hands into his hips. “I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing it because you’re family.”
“Not happening,” I said, starting the bike.
Evan’s shoulders rounded forward as he turned his head up the street.
Revving the engine, I raised my voice and said, “I need to do this alone. If you want to help, track Cooper down and set up a meeting.” Then I looked over my shoulder and darted out into traffic.
Gary was the one person who knew the details of what happened that day in a remote corner of Afghanistan. He understood—knew what it was like—to have to endure a struggle like the one we were forced to live. And he also understood what it was like to come home to a group of people who didn’t know half of what was going on, what men like us were doing to protect our country.
Hitting a couple of red lights along the way, my mind slowly drifted to Sienna.
I couldn’t stop thinking about the photo Noah had showed me. It was their wedding announcement to the world—treating it like they were the royal couple of Colorado. My emotions were a mix between uncertainty and frustration.
When I turned into the neighborhood, I slowed my bike and pulled to the curb.
Killing the engine, I removed my helmet and looked around.
I wasn’t at all surprised that Gary had chosen to live in this neighborhood. It was in the swanky part of town, popular among men and women our age. He was quick to acclimate back into civilian life—much quicker than I was. That was part of the reason this meeting was going to be interesting.
A young woman smiled as she passed by on the path. She had her head in her phone, her ears plugged with music. Just another casualty to the latest in technology.
Diving my hand into my pocket, I pulled out the folded paper note I had written Gary’s address on. The PI had supplied me the details. When I confirmed I was looking at the correct building I stepped off my bike, leaving my jacket and helmet behind, and made my way to the stairs.
The sky was a sea of blue with big cotton ball battle ships lazily sailing through it. Drying my hands on my thighs, I thought of the times Gary and I had met after he’d moved to Colorado. I hadn’t seen him in several years, though I couldn’t deny how instrumental he had been in helping me feel more at home in the state I’d grown up in.
Stopping at the bottom of the outside staircase, I took a deep breath.
If it wasn’t for Gary, I was sure I would have reenlisted just to be able to go back to a world I understood. Colorado wasn’t the place it had been when I left. Despite it being my home, it had changed. Even, more likely, I had changed.
When I thought about having this conversation, an empty feeling formed in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t want to do it but I also knew that I had no choice. This was something I couldn’t just walk away from.
Loosening my tie, I rolled my sleeves up and marched up the two flights of stairs before entering the building. A cold breeze swept over me, sending chills down my spine. The soft sounds of radio muffled through the hall but all I could think about was how important it was to not lose my cool.
Once I located Gary’s front door, my vision tunneled.
I stood in front of it, hearing my heart thrash between my ears.
Perking my ear, I listened to sounds of conversation but couldn’t make out the words being said.
Willing myself to commit, I lifted my fist to the door and knocked.
I blew out a heavy breath and wet my dry lips.
Finally, the door opened and I turned to find Gary’s incredulous stare boring straight through me. He blinked as if not believing what he was seeing. I couldn’t believe it, either. “Trevor.”
My feet were frozen in place. I stood and stared, unsure what to say. Images of him kissing Sienna flashed behind my lids when I heard myself whisper, “Gary.”
His lips parted, then quickly snapped shut.
“Gary, it’s your turn,” someone yelled from the living room.
Gary glanced to his hand. He had five cards pinched between his fingers. “Texas Hold ‘em.” He smirked when lifting his eyes back to me.
I nodded and shifted my weight to my opposite leg.
“Come inside.” He turned his body sideways and waved for me to follow him into his home. “Have a drink.”
Rubbing my hand over my face, I shook my head. “That’s all right, I … I just heard you were living here and was in the area and thought I might stop in and say hi.”
Gary probed my expression for answers. “Funny. I never thought you would be the one to go dry.”
“Just not in the mood.”
A blank stare matched his frown. “No problem. There’s soda in the fridge.”
Glancing over his shoulder, I played dumb and asked, “What’s the celebration?”
&nbs
p; His brows drew together. “You didn’t get the invitation?”
I chewed the inside of my cheek.
“Getting’ hitched.” His lips spread across his face, revealing his white teeth.
“Ah, right.” I wagged my finger at him, chuckling softly.
“I know it was last minute, and don’t take that as an insult,” he snickered, “but there was no way I couldn’t not invite the Trevor Foster—everyone’s favorite war hero.” He reached his arm out and gripped my shoulder. “Stay. Meet my best men. Old college buddies.” He pulled me inside his apartment.
A few waved from the card table. Red Dixie cups were filled with hard liquor, beer bottles sitting empty on the kitchen counter. With his rehearsal dinner only hours away, I wondered how any of them were going to make it until then without passing out.
“Hey, everyone. This is Trevor, an old friend from the Marine Corps.”
I nodded my greeting but couldn’t focus on anything but the Rockies game playing in the background.
Gary turned back to me with eyes sparkling. “I’m glad you stopped by. This way we can catch up now instead of at the wedding. Oh, and some buddies from the Marines will be there, too.” He smiled. “It will be like old times.”
Nothing could compare to our times over seas. It didn’t matter who was in the room.
Gary bent down and clamped his fingers around a red cup. Inside my head, I saw him clamping his hand around Sienna’s neck. When I pictured him in full uniform, standing at the altar, anger boiled up inside my chest. “Mind if we speak in private?”
Gary lowered his brows and set his drink back down on the nearby table. “Yeah, of course.” He told his friends to play a hand without him as we stepped back into the hall. “There’s a quiet spot out back, near the pool.”
I nodded and followed him outside, sliding my sunglasses onto my face.
“How have you been?” He turned and gave me a knowing look. “Has it been getting better?”
Without hinting toward an answer either way, I stared into his eyes knowing that he, too, was dealing with the same struggles I had been plagued with. Though it might not have been to the same degree, it was there.
We took our spot at an empty table next to the pool. “What are you doing to pass the time?” he asked.
Pinching my tie near the knot, I slid it between my fingers. “Started working in the family business.”
“That’s good.” Gary smiled before telling me about his own work. Then he looked me directly in my eye and said, “I would really like it if you were at the wedding tomorrow.”
The clear pool waters sparkled beneath the sun. “You know I can never repay you for saving my life.”
“You would have done the same for me.” He nodded, still holding his gaze firmly on mine. “As Marines, we fight as a team.”
I tipped my chin back. “Not this time.”
His entire body stiffened.
Removing my shades, I leaned forward and said, “Do you plan on beating her once you’re married, too?”
Lunging across the table, he fisted my collar. “Watch yourself, Sergeant.”
In one swift move, I chopped his arm at the elbow to get him to release his grip. Not a second later, my other hand was firmly clamped around his throat. In that moment, I wanted to kill him.
His eyes bulged, the veins in the whites thickening red.
I tightened my grip when I remembered Sienna’s tongue sweeping over mine. My muscles quivered as anger pulsed through my arteries when I could feel the way her busted lip brushed over my mouth.
“Hey! Get your hands off of him,” a voice screamed from behind.
Gary’s face had turned a deep shade of purple by the time I released him. Pushing him back into his seat, he held his neck, coughing. “You need fucking help.”
I stood and kicked my chair away, clenching my fists, ready to fight his friends who now circled me.
“Just give us the word, Gary, and we’ll kick this loser’s ass for you.”
I slowly backed away, keeping one eye on Gary, the other on his friends. Pointing my finger at Gary, I said, “I know what you did.”
Gary’s face burned red. Then a woman wearing a lace bikini came out of nowhere and rushed to his side. “Gary, oh my god. Are you okay?” She took his face between her hands. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
26
Sienna
I was back to where it all started.
Mildew stains coated the brick walls of the nearby buildings and smells of something cooking drifted through the windows from the restaurant at the street corner.
Turning my head back to the door, I tried the knob only to find it locked.
Taking my phone out of my purse, I dialed his number. The line rang until clicking over to voicemail. “Hey. It’s me. I’m at your garage … Can we talk? Call me on this number when you get this.”
Dropping my phone away from my ear, I let out a heavy sigh.
I was hoping to find him here so we could talk in private. I should have called first, not sure where to look for him next. But with Sophia and Monica talking about going after—and confronting—Gary’s ex, things were moving fast. Just as they needed to. There wasn’t much time.
Lifting my arms, I pulled my hair back on my head and tied it into a ponytail.
I didn’t want to involve my girlfriends in my personal problems, but they saw no other way. Things were quickly spiraling out of control. We all knew the clock was ticking down to doomsday.
Standing on my tip-toes, I shielded my eyes from the light and peeked inside the window.
Through the speckle, the garage was empty. His Mustang was gone, as well as his bike.
I fell to my heels and shook the bay door. It didn’t budge. Feeling helpless, I thought about my next move—where I was going to go, how I was going to find him, what I was going to say—when I felt the hairs on the nape of my neck stand.
A displeased grunt echoed down the alley.
I turned my head to find the same shop owner who had called me an intruder eyeballing me from his back door.
My brows sharpened into a V and I cursed him under my breath before waving a friendly hand. “I’m Trevor’s friend. Remember me?”
He didn’t react.
Of course you don’t. “I was here yesterday.”
Still no reaction.
I dropped my hand back to my side as I watched him disappear back into his shop.
“Creep,” I muttered under my breath. Hooking my thumb in the shoulder strap of my purse, I marched back to my car. Sitting behind the wheel, I searched for the Foster Enterprises address. That was the next logical place to look for him.
Plugging the address into the GPS, I started my journey with a beating heart.
I wasn’t positive this was the right move. If anything, it would only spark more questions about why I was here. Though I had thought up a dozen different excuses for needing to talk to Trevor, I doubted I could pull it off without looking suspicious.
Before I knew it, I was parked and being whisked up in the elevator, taking the ride with a couple of suits. Foster Enterprises clearly didn’t obey the rules of the weekend. I stepped out onto the floor with the Foster Enterprises name and emblem staring me down.
As I dragged my feet across the carpeted floor, I tried to imagine Trevor roaming the halls. It was hard to do, so much easier seeing him under the hood of his car in his garage.
The front desk was empty. At least they gave someone Saturday off. But I didn’t know who to ask for help.
“Sienna,” a familiar voice said.
I lifted my head to find Nolan casually walking toward me. “Hey.”
“I thought you were with the girls?” He lifted his elbow, pushing the cuff of his tailored suit up his arm to check the time. “Sophia made me swear I would leave work early so we wouldn’t be late to the rehearsal.” He fixed his gaze on me and winked.
Dropping my head, nerves swept over me. I didn’t want to h
ave to explain myself. Not yet, at least. This was what I was afraid of.
“Don’t tell her, but I saw the dress she’s planning to wear.” His approval was clear. “Anyway, I’m happy for you. It should be a beautiful ceremony.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. When Nolan’s gaze fell to my lip, my brain scrambled to change directions before anything else was said. “Sorry about the late invite.”
His brows pulled together as he flicked his eyes up to mine. “You must mean my brother?”
“Right,” I said, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Is that why you’re here?” He dropped the stack of papers he was holding on the receptionist’s desk. “Because I know Cooper has committed to going.” He leaned forward and dropped his voice. “Your dad made sure of it.”
My eyes darted over his face. He still hadn’t given me a clue about the third Foster. “Actually, I was hoping to speak with Trevor.”
“Trevor?” His head snapped up.
Another brother stepped up from behind. “Trevor just stepped out.” He turned to Nolan and mentioned something about an urgent email waiting in his inbox.
“It was great seeing you, Sienna.” Nolan squeezed my arm. “I can’t wait to begin the celebration.” He air-kissed my cheek, which I accepted, then turned down the hall.
“Let’s go into my office.” The brother waved his head for me to follow. “I’m Noah.”
I shook his hand. “Sienna.”
As soon as we stepped into his office, a large man wearing a cowboy hat stood. His eyes narrowed before glancing back to the computer. When I saw what he was looking at, the knot in my stomach tightened.
“I know who you are,” Noah said as I watched the other man close out the screen. “I’ll be attending your wedding tomorrow.” He smiled. “Please, have a seat.”
I watched Noah skirt his desk and whisper something in the other man’s ear. The cowboy tipped his hat at me as I stepped out of his way. “Ma’am.”
If my muscles weren’t so tight, I would have smiled at the formality. It was refreshing to be greeted in such a way, but I was too nervous to truly enjoy the attention.
