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This was getting more difficult by the minute. I handed her phone back. “I’ll follow you home.”
She nodded, not seeming as confident as she had a few minutes ago. “You think it could be George?”
“Until we know more, it’s possible. Now, let’s get you home so you can change your bandage before the meeting.”
“Yes, honey.”
She meant it to poke me, but I could see myself getting used to it.
She pointed. “What’s with the keychain?”
I held it, felt the ridges on the metal, and the horrible memory came back. I pocketed the thing.
“What? I don’t get to ask you any questions? How’s that fair?”
“Not about that. Now get in your car, and I’ll follow you home.”
“Your dog tags?” She wasn’t going to let this go.
I turned. “Not mine. A buddy who died on an op with me. My best friend. He didn’t deserve to die, but sometimes bad shit happens to good people.”
“Yeah, I know.”
I blinked rapidly to rid myself of the image of Marilyn. “You’ve lived in a privileged cocoon your whole life. You don’t know shit about hardship. Now get out, Princess. I’ll follow you.”
She didn’t understand true loss. Hopefully, she’d never find out.
Did I watch her pretty ass sway as she strutted to her car? You bet I did. Closing my eyes, I imagined her naked, splayed out on my bed. My cock surged to life, and the horrible memory of Marilyn faded away.
Serena
I’d really strucka nerve asking about the keychain.
Maybe I hadn’t been to war, but I’d visited hell. I slammed the door to his SUV and walked to my little car.
“You don’t know shit about hardship.” Those words stung. I knew more about hardship than he could imagine. Fuck you, Duke Hawk. You don’t know shit about me or my history.
Beeping the door unlocked, I yanked it open, climbed in, fastened my seatbelt, and locked the doors. “You’re the one who doesn’t know shit, you big oaf.” His words still felt like lemon juice in a fresh cut, even if he was a sexy oaf.
After a few more breaths to calm down, I looked his way.
He smiled, and I pressed the start button.
BOOM.
The car shook, and fire erupted from the hood.
Why me?
I pulled the door handle—it didn’t open. Panic filled me as smoke entered the cabin. My eyes burned, but I found the unlock button and clicked it, still pushing on the door.
I coughed. The door was still locked.
The smoke thickened. I couldn’t see a thing but yelled the one thing I could think of. “Duuuuuuuke…”
CHAPTER 12
Duke
