by L.T. Ryan
* * *
“Jack,” Jessie said as I burst through the door. “What the hell happened to you?”
I looked in the mirror mounted over the dresser and noticed four cuts on my face and several on my arms. My adrenaline had been pumping so high, I didn’t realize I had received the injuries while running through the woods.
“Jack?”
I spoke between breaths. “Took a jog through the woods.”
Bear lifted his head. “Why?”
I fell back onto the bed and stared at the yellow tinted popcorn ceiling.
Nobody spoke.
After a few minutes I went to the door and looked through the window next to it. “Bear, can you go around front and see if any cop cars are out there?”
“Cop cars?” he said. “What the hell did you do?”
I crossed the room and stopped outside the bathroom door. “I got jumped.”
“Then why were you running?”
“The cops were coming.”
“Again, why did you run?” Bear asked.
“Something the guy said,” I said. “He said he was untouchable.”
Bear shook his head. He got up and moved into my field of vision. “What happened?”
“That’s not all,” I said. “He made me for a Marine.”
Bear shrugged. He hunched over and we were eye to eye. He nodded slowly and changed facial expressions repeatedly, like he was thinking about saying something but was stuck searching for the right words.
“Just go check out front,” I said. “Stay out of view, though. There were four of them and only two are hurt enough to go to the hospital.”
He moved to the door. Turned back and nodded, then stepped outside. The door closed with a thud.
I looked at Jessie. She smiled, but her furrowed brow gave her away.
“Jess,” I said. “I’m sorry I got you involved in this. I wasn’t thinking when we stopped—”
She waved me off. “I’m glad you showed up.”
“Are you kidding? Your life might be ruined. Is ruined.”
She crossed the room and stood in front of me. Placed her hands on my shoulders and leaned in. I felt her hot breath on my neck. “My life’s been ruined since I walked out of yours.”
I leaned back. Our eyes met and locked in that familiar stare. She brushed her lips against mine and held them close. We kissed. My stomach tensed and eased. I was transported back in time for a moment.
She pulled back and dragged her hand down the side of my face.
I winced as her nails crossed a cut on my face.
“I’m sorry,” she said, leaning in to kiss the wound.
“It doesn’t hurt.”
She smiled, stood and grabbed my hands, pulling me to my feet. “C’mon. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I stood and our bodies pressed together momentarily. She smiled and turned.
I followed her into the bathroom and closed the door behind me. She turned the faucet on. I spun her around and grabbed her by the waist. Lifted her onto the sink and leaned in to kiss her. She kissed me back. Our hands rediscovered each other. I pulled away.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Bear,” I said.
“Why are you thinking about Bear? Don’t tell me I was right about you two?” A smile formed on her lips as she winked.
I grabbed her hands and pulled them together, resting them on my chest. “He’s going to be back any minute.”
“Send him out again.”
“Too risky. This place is not safe.”
She sighed and leaned forward, placing her head on my shoulder, lips against my neck. “Should have rented two rooms.”
I stepped back and lifted her chin with my finger. We stared into each other’s eyes for a few moments.
“I have to fix this,” I said.
“Fix what?”
“This situation. I have to clear our names. Something stinks and I need to get to the bottom of it. But I promise, I’ll fix it.”
She tucked her bottom lip inside her mouth and let it slowly roll back out from under her front teeth.
“Is that all that needs fixing?”
I leaned in and kissed her again. “I want to fix us, too.”
She smiled.
“I’m done after this. Done with the Marines, the agency, the life.” I turned around and walked to the door. Stopped and looked back at her. “I want to come home to you.”
