True Beginnings (The Lost and Found Series Book 3)

by Amanda Mackey

  “Yeah, but it’s never bothered you this much. From your insanely colorful depiction on the phone earlier, something epic must have happened. Spill!”

  Retelling the events of my trip home, I made sure she knew just how cool Viper’s behavior toward me had been. I wasn’t one to sugarcoat things. Especially with my best friend. She could do what she wanted with my brutal honesty.

  Mac let me rant and get it all off my chest without interrupting, which I was grateful for because once I got started, I let loose.

  “So you see why I’m so annoyed?” I puffed the words out, exhausted.

  She wore a frown and her eyes showed a small glimmer of confusion. “I do know he was burned by a woman a while ago. The house he lives in was meant to be their home. She left. I guess it’s not easy being the partner of a military soldier who’s away on missions so much. They come back from war…different.”

  Watching Mac look to the ground while fiddling with the sofa cushion, I asked, “You worried Dec is going to go on another assignment? That he may not…you know…return?”

  Her eyes lifted to mine and in them, I saw the truth.

  “Yeah. If he decided to go, I don’t think I’d sleep a wink until he came home. He’s cheated death way too many times. Eventually, his luck has to run out.”

  I’d been so happy to see her with a guy who treated her like a queen, I hadn’t considered her insecurities. After her ex, Nick, who had been almost non-existent in the relationship, Mac deserved someone who put her first. Still, I’d hate to see her hurt again and have to pick up the pieces.

  “Maybe he’ll decide not to go if it comes down to it. He has you now. Perhaps that’s enough. Perhaps you’re enough. He’d need a full medical anyway, and given his recent mental meltdown, my guess is they’d deem him unfit.”

  She smiled with only mild enthusiasm. “Maybe. Anyway, enough of the dreary talk. You up for going out for a bit tonight, or are you still recovering from the double you pulled?”

  Ugh. The thought of getting dressed up and leaving the comfort of my apartment was none too thrilling, but when had I last gone out and enjoyed myself? And with Mac?

  Deciding to ignore my bone-weary fatigue, I asked, “You driving?”

  “Sure.”

  Checking the time, it was fife fifty p.m. I hadn’t eaten dinner. I truly just wanted a hot shower and then bed, but Mac very rarely offered, so I put my own needs aside.

  “I’ll go for a couple of hours. And not somewhere flashy. Oh, and I’ll need an hour or so to get ready.”

  Mac’s cheeks pulled up into a generous smile. “Great! I’ll be back at seven.” Her gaze drew downwards and then back up as if she were assessing me. “Eat something too. You’re pale and drawn in the face.”

  I wanted to scream at her that it probably had something to do with the fact that in the last day I’d had about ten coffees and a soggy veggie sandwich because I’d been run off my feet, but I let my bitchiness recede so that should I need to use it on Viper at a later date, it would be at full capacity.

  After Mac left, I cursed the fact that I’d agreed to go out so easily. My feet still ached. My whole body sagged with exhaustion. But my friend had been through a major ordeal when she’d been kidnapped and thought she would die. Then she’d had to deal with Dec’s full memory return and the PTSD which had come with it.

  No. I’d grab some food, an energy drink, and a scalding shower, and I’d be good to go.

  Chapter Three

  Viper

  “She said what?” I laughed as Dec vividly described what Char had called me. It should have angered me, but for some strange reason, it didn’t. If anything, I found it amusing.

  “You really pissed her off, man.”

  I heard him let out a loud breath into the phone. “Why are you such a dick to her, anyway? You like her or something?”

  “Fuck that shit! You know me better than that after Sandy took off. I’m not looking for another needy female who can’t handle my job. Besides, she’s not my type.”

  “Oh, please! She’s exactly your type. She gives as good as she gets. You should cut her some slack and be nice. She’s Mac’s best friend, so you’ll be seeing a lot more of her.”

  I tried not to focus on that. The woman would have my balls if and when I saw her again. That much I was sure of.

  “So, you want to go out for a bit tonight?”

  Repeating his question, I asked, “You want to go out? Tonight?” Normally it was me asking Dec, not the other way around. He rarely instigated going to clubs unless it was work related.

  “Sure. Mac and Char are going into town for a bit, and while she didn’t ask me to go directly, I thought I’d hang in the background. Make sure she’s okay.”

  “In other words, you want to spy on her. Come on, man, that’s low, even for you. Don’t you trust her?”

  “I trust Mac. It’s other assholes I don’t trust. She does happen to be one of the hottest women in Ann Arbor.”

  I had to mentally agree. She had looks other females might be jealous of, but I didn’t feel like tagging along on some stakeout.

  I took pause, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to find the will to go. A certain redhead would be there and that could only mean disaster.

  Dec chimed in, “You don’t even have to take any money. My treat for drinks.”

  “Oh, you really are trying to bribe me. Look, as nice as the offer is, I really don’t feel like getting slapped across the face and kneed in the groin by Char.”

  He roared at that remark, damn him. He was enjoying this too much. After composing himself, he asked, “Please? You can remain in the background like me. They won’t even know we’re there. I promise.”

  Dec didn’t beg very often, but I could hear it in his voice. If I didn’t go, he wouldn’t either, and then he would blame himself if anything happened to Mac. God. Did I really have a choice?

  “Fine. You win, but I’m not staying long.” I knew that would probably end up being a big, fat lie because once I got there and had a drink or two, I’d loosen up and get into the spirit of things. Maybe it’s what I needed to help me settle.

  “Thanks, bro. I mean it. Pick you up in an hour.”

  Ending the call, I strode into my bedroom to shower and pick out a shirt and some long pants to wear. He owed me big time. Not only for saving his ass but for losing mine tonight to a sassy redhead.

  ***

  The music pumped so hard, I almost felt the walls jumping inside the club, Rave. Being early, we could move around freely and see plenty of spare tables and chairs. Heading to the bar first, Dec ordered two beers.

  “Let’s sit upstairs,” he offered.

  Agreeing that we were less likely to be noticed up there, I followed him. Last time we’d been here, Mac and Char had spent a good portion of the night dancing, so I hoped they’d do the same tonight so we could remain unnoticed.

  Upstairs there were only a few people scattered around, so we found a spot near the balcony, but far enough away that we wouldn’t be spotted unless we stood and leaned against the railing.

  Downing some of my beer, deciding to just chill and be more in the moment, I pushed the niggling voices in my head back into the darkness.

  “You seem distant.” Dec could read me well. I didn’t want to tell him about my inability to sleep more than four hours a night or the need to go into battle again. He thought I was handling my PTSD. I had been up until I’d had to save his ass.

  Shrugging, I began to peel the label off the front of the bottle. “Just not sleeping lately, that’s all.”

  Unable to look at him, I noted the pause. His appraisal. A weighted stare that I could feel rather than see.

  “Hey.” A hand on my arm. “Are you okay? I mean, you’re not still rattled about your run in with Char, are you?”

  As if a woman could make me feel hungry to maim something, or the need to pound my skull into a wall in order to try and erase images upon images of gore. No. War had done it. Wa
r would continue to do it, even if I never went into battle again. No meds could erase the past. Unlike Dec, who had been given that luxury for a while, my internal video recorder would continue on replay till the day I took my last breath.

  “You think I care about what she thinks of me? I couldn’t give two shits one way or the other.” A seed of doubt popped through the muck but then disappeared quickly.

  Finally glancing up, I found my friend’s forehead creased with worry. He had enough of his own fucked up past to deal with. He didn’t need my burdens too.

  “I’m good. Truly. Just tired.” Glancing toward the metal railing beside us, I asked, “You want to see if your girl’s here yet?”

  At the mention of his girl, he grinned. She’d stolen his heart. No doubt about it. After Trudy stomped all over it by screwing Reno, he was overdue for happiness.

  Rising, after placing his beer on the table, he angled toward the railing, casually scanning the room below. He remained in shadow so as to be inconspicuous. I kinda hoped the girls had changed their minds about coming and then we could have another beer and head home.

  Didn’t look like that was happening though, as I watched Dec hone in on something below. His hand on the railing gripped tightly and his muscles flexed. Bingo. His woman had arrived. Which meant…ah, hell. I was dead meat.

  Chapter Four

  Char

  Yawning as we entered the club, I already wanted to leave. My feet were hurting from the heels Mac had insisted I wear, and I pulled at the hem of the too short dress. God, I looked like shark bait.

  Normally, I would have been all for dressing this way, but with fatigue threatening to drop me like a fly, I seriously had hoped I could turn up in my pajamas and comfortable slippers.

  When had the tables turned? Mac appeared pumped and ready to party, and here I was, shoulders sagging and feet dragging. Most times it was the other way around.

  I guess overdosing on work could do that to you.

  “You want anything to drink?” Mac yelled over the loud music.

  Did I? Not really, but one would help me relax. “Vodka and lemon,” I called back, remembering our last time at the same club. Mac and Dec had been taking a break and she hadn’t wanted to be here any more than I did tonight. Still, we’d danced our asses off, in between fighting off the jerk who’d become too handsy with Mac—right before Dec and Viper had saved the day and knocked the guy unconscious.

  Man, Viper had looked hot that night.

  Dragging my thoughts from the gutter as Mac handed me my drink, we found a table and sat, watching the handful of people on the dance floor.

  A couple gyrated together, joined at the hips, not caring they were out of sync with the beat. They appeared in their own little world and I couldn’t help the pang of jealousy I felt. Deep down I wanted someone to love who loved me back unconditionally, no matter how much I played the single, wild woman. Having my best friend hooked up with the man of her dreams and getting to see snippets of what it would be like, I yearned for the same. It had been two years since I’d last had a boyfriend. We’d been quite solid for the eighteen months before that, spending most nights together even though we lived separately. Derek had been a doctor at University Hospital, which is where we’d met. It turned out Dr. Derek had a hankering for pretty brunette nurses in the children’s ward.

  Lesson learned. Don’t date anyone you work with. It had ended badly, and not long after, Derek had put in for a transfer, thank goodness or I would have ended up having to quit.

  As it was, the humiliation of having everyone find out had been hard enough. With him gone though, and me not having to face the bitch he’d screwed within the grounds of the hospital, life had quickly returned to normal.

  “Are you really okay?” Mac nudged me. “You haven’t seemed yourself today. And don’t give me the crap about being tired. I’ve seen you after pulling many double shifts, and you’ve never been like this.” Her hand swept over me.

  “Like what?” I tried to act dumb but didn’t succeed.

  “Oh, please. You forget who you’re talking to. I know you. There’s something else.”

  Watching the colored light play over her features as it morphed from red to blue, then green to yellow, I sighed, glancing at the couple on the dance floor, who were now exchanging saliva in a heated kiss. “I guess I just get lonely, you know? Seeing you and Dec together makes me wish I had a special someone.”

  Her features softened at my revelation. She reached out and placed her hand over mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I want that for you too. I’ll have to talk to Dec and see if he can hook you up…” Realizing her mistake, she added, “Not Viper. I’m sure he’s got other single friends.”

  “Have you ever seen him with anyone other than his bestie?”

  I could tell Mac wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t. “No. But that doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Don’t go there, Mac. I really don’t need setting up.” Wanting the conversation to end, I downed the rest of my drink and pulled her up. “Come on, as exhausted as I am, let’s dance.”

  Feeling a little like the center of attention when the other dancers, including the loved-up couple, left the floor, leaving only Mac and me, I tried not to be too worried. Normally I didn’t mind being the center of attention, but I did feel like I was off my game.

  Swinging my hips and letting my arms rise above my head, I closed my eyes and let the music wash over me.

  I’m not sure how long we danced, but when my feet could take it no more, I motioned to Mac that I was going back to the table. She followed.

  Glancing at my watch, I noticed we’d been lost to the music for a good half hour.

  I could feel sweat in places I shouldn’t. “I’m heading to the ladies to freshen up. You want to come?”

  “Nah. I’m good. I’ll get us another drink.”

  “Only one more for me. I want to be coherent at work tomorrow.”

  Watching her dig into her purse as she walked to the bar, I headed to the hallway that led to the bathrooms.

  Inside, I relieved myself and washed my hands, glancing in the mirror. My makeup had all but slithered off with the sweat, leaving mascara and minimal lip gloss. I looked like I felt. Shattered.

  With my shoulder bag still hanging across my torso, I dug into it and re-applied my lip gloss before exiting the bathroom. On my way down the hallway, I noticed the steps to the second level. I should have kept walking, but curiosity got the better of me. I’d never been upstairs and wanted to know what it looked like.

  Scrambling up in my heels, I let my eyes adjust to the darker atmosphere, turning to scan the entire room. Another bar sat against one wall with tables and chairs scattered here and there. Finding the railing which overlooked the dance floor, I sucked in a breath when I found Dec and Viper sitting at a table, chatting idly. Hoping I wasn’t spotted, I cringed as Viper’s eyes left Harley’s, and as he glanced to the right, his gaze stopped on me. His eyes widened slightly, but being the cool, calm, and collected soldier, he schooled the rest of his features well.

  Not knowing what to do, I stood staring as if my feet were superglued to the floor. Dec, perhaps sensing Viper had fixated on something, turned and found me too. He grinned and started to rise from his seat.

  Unable to handle facing his arrogant friend, I smiled and turned, hoping I could make it down the steps and into the crowd below before he caught up to me.

  “Char!” Dec called, already halfway across the room.

  Damn it! Couldn’t he tell I didn’t want to hang around?

  “Wait!”

  Gripping the handrail on the stairs, I stopped, turning slowly and plastering a fake smile on my face.

  “Declan. Hi. What are you doing here? Mac didn’t mention you were coming tonight. And speaking of such, why are you up here when she’s downstairs?”

  Had they had a fight she hadn’t told me about? Or had they just not communicated to each other as to their activities tonight? Str
ange. They were inseparable.

  Closing the gap, he stopped just short of me. Combing his hair with one hand while holding a beer with the other, I peered into his mocha eyes.

  “Ahh, she doesn’t actually know I’m here.”

  “Oh?”

  He appeared slightly embarrassed. “I wanted to keep an eye on her. From a distance.”

  “You mean stalking!” I ground the words out.

  “That’s what Viper said too, but in light of everything that has gone down recently, I think my concern is warranted.”

  Blowing out a long breath, I let my eyes fall to his ample chest, visible against his fitted shirt, and then lower to the black jeans hugging his manly bits.

  Eyes up, Char. He’s taken, remember?

  I had to hand it to my friend. She’d struck the jackpot as far as snagging a hottie went.

  Shaking my head, I found Viper swigging on his beer while watching me. He looked even more amazing with a collared shirt and blue jeans on. The dim light prevented me from truly appreciating his green eyes, but I remembered them well.

  Gah! I needed to stop ogling and get back to Mac.

  “You girls want to join us up here? Now that you know we’re here, it seems pointless to remain separate,” Dec offered.

  Not wanting to get any closer to Viper, I shook my head. “Actually, we’re probably heading home. I just needed to use the bathroom and decided to take a detour.”

  “Well, we were only staying a short time anyway.” Glancing back to his friend, he motioned with his head to get up and join us.

  Seeing the handsome soldier tense before rising, I turned my back on him, unable to withstand his piercing stare.

  Huffing, I replied, “Fine. Whatever.” I strode down the stairs, finding Mac still sitting at our table. Thankfully she was alone, which meant no douchebags had tried to hit on her, unlike last time.

  I could feel and hear the two bulky guys behind me. They kept quiet as we approached Mac. She had her mouth open. Her eyes were fixated on her man.