Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 75754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
My heart broke.
And as listened to the rest of Sterling’s eulogy, I knew that today would forever mark him.
Forever be a day in his mind that meant he’d failed.
But he wasn’t a failure, not even a little bit.
***
“Hello?” Sterling answered his phone.
Then his jaw clenched.
“Yeah, I can be there by nightfall,” Sterling answered.
I looked over at him quickly, and saw his eyes focused on me.
My stomach sank.
He was being called in for another mission.
Shit.
Then, right in the middle of everyone at the dinner after Cormac’s funeral, Sterling dropped down to one knee.
“I didn’t want to ask you this here…I thought I had more time,” he whispered to me. “But I need to ask you before I go…just in case.”
Just in case he dies, I thought bitterly.
“Will you marry me?” He asked softly.
My eyes watered, and I closed my eyes as tears started to pour down my cheeks in great torrents.
“Yeah, I’ll marry you,” I said, opening my eyes to take him in.
He slipped the beautiful ring on my finger, then moved until he was standing directly in front of me.
“We’ll get married when I get home,” he ordered.
I nodded. “Okay.”
“You’ll listen to Silas…and the rest of them, okay?” He asked.
I nodded.
I knew he’d worry if I didn’t say yes, so I agreed, even though it bristled.
“You’ll make sure you answer my calls, no matter where you’re at,” he continued.
I snorted. “Absolutely I will. Like you’d get me not to.”
He moved forward and pressed his lips softly against mine.
“I love you,” he whispered.
I gave him the words.
Words that had come to mean a whole lot more to me lately.
“I love you, too.”
He turned without another word and walked out the door, stopping in front of Silas and Garrison.
“You’ll protect her.”
It wasn’t a question, but another demand.
Both men nodded. “You know we will.”
His head hung for five long seconds, then he straightened his back and walked out without another backward glance.
Into the dangerous world of a Navy SEAL.
Chapter 18
Some heroes wear a cape. Mine wear’s camo.
-Ruthie to a stranger
Ruthie
Day 4
I got the confirmation that he was where he was supposed to be.
That was good, wasn’t it?
You know what wasn’t good?
Being followed to my job.
And home.
And to the freakin’ bathroom.
That wasn’t good.
***
Day 12
Kraken (2:22): I’m okay.
Ruthie (2:22): Why does your name say Kraken?
Kraken (2:22): Because I’m the sea monster…or so I’ve been told.
Ruthie (2:23): The one that ruins everyone’s day?
Kraken (2:23): Funny funny.
Ruthie (2:24): How come I don’t know where you are?
Kraken (2:25): You’ll never know where I am.
Ruthie (2:26): Well that just sucks.
Kraken (2:27): You knew what you signed up for. You’re mine for eternity.
Ruthie (2:27): I wasn’t thinking clearly.
Kraken (2:28): Your loss and my gain. No take backs.
Ruthie (2:30): That’s not funny. I miss you.
Ruthie (2:35): Kraken, are you done with me?
Ruthie (3:22): I love you Sterling, come home to me in one piece or else.
***
Day 32
Kraken (5:15): Or else what?
Ruthie (5:22): Really? You’re going to finish a conversation from twenty days ago?
Kraken (5:23): Shit happens.
Ruthie (5:25): You catch your bad guy yet?
Kraken (5:26): Working on it.
Ruthie (5:27): That’s helpful.
Kraken (5:28): I try.
Kraken (5:29): Going again. Love you too.
***
Day 44
“Hello?” I answered tiredly.
I’d worked a double shift today at Dane’s, then a single shift at Halligans and Handcuffs.
I’d literally worked myself into the ground in hopes that I wouldn’t have to be at home long before I fell asleep once again.
It was easier that way.
And I’d been asleep for nearly two hours when my phone rang.
It was now eleven fifty-three at night, and if it wasn’t someone important on the phone, I’d start losing my shit.
“This Ruthie?” A gruff man’s voice asked.
He sounded like he was a chain smoker his voice was so rough.
“Yeah, this is Ruthie,” I answered.
“This is Parker, I’m here with Sterling,” he said.
I blinked. “Then why isn’t Sterling calling me?”
“Because he’s running a fever like a little fuckin’ girl, and he won’t take the fuckin’ meds I’m trying to give him because he’s hallucinating. So I’m calling you to talk to him in hopes that he’ll unclench his fuckin’ teeth and take his fuckin’ meds,” Parker explained tightly.
I blinked. “Why is he running a fever?”
The Parker guy sighed.
“I’m not at liberty to tell you,” he answered stiffly.
“Was he shot? Is he hurt? Tell me!” I demanded.
“My God, you’re as bad as him, blowing stuff way out of proportion,” Parker grumbled.
“Ruthie?” A seriously sluggish sounding Sterling called.
“Sterling? Hey baby, are you okay?” I asked.
“’m fine. Whatchoo doin’ right now?” He asked.
I laughed softly under my breath.
“I was sleeping.” I told him.
“Good. At least one of us should be sleepin.’ ‘m so freakin’ tired I could sleep for a month,” he whispered. “’s it okay?”
“Is what okay, honey?” I asked.
“To take the medicine,” he groaned.
“Yeah, baby. It’s okay,” I answered.
“Good,” he said. “’Cause I didn’t want to be killed by taking some terrorists medicine.”
With that he said, “‘Luh you.” And hung up.
I started to freak the fuck out, because the moment I said that, I started to think of ‘what if.’
What if that guy wasn’t on Sterling’s team?
What if that was a terrorist?
What if he wasn’t really sick?
I tried to call the number back, but it immediately went to voicemail.
The next number I called was immediately sent to voicemail.
“Fuck you, too, Silas,” I growled, flicking to the next name on the list.
Loki.
“Hello?” Loki asked, sounding tired.
“Do you know a guy named Parker?”
“Yeah, fucker slit my throat.”
I gasped, my stomach dropping in dismay.
“Oh, no,” I moaned. “Oh, God. I told Sterling to take the medicine that Parker was offering him.”
I hadn’t realized I was hyperventilating until Loki started yelling at me.
“Ruthie!” Loki bellowed.
I put the phone back to my ear.
“Yeah?” I whispered forlornly.
“He’s on Sterling’s team.”
I closed my eyes and let my head drop to my hands.
“Thank God.”
“What was the call about?” Loki asked once I’d calmed down somewhat.
“He was running a fever and the man, Parker, wanted to give him meds but he wouldn’t take it without talking to me,” I answered.
“Got it. Don’t freak out. He’s fine.”
It wasn’t until much later that I realized I’d never gotten around to asking Loki what he meant by Parker slitting his throat.