Page 32 of Rescuing Mary

Truck was thirty-eight. Three years ago they had been in Iraq. They’d been on a mission that had complications, just like this one, and they’d had to call in the Air Force to drop some bombs to give them cover and to help dispatch the terrorists who’d surrounded them.

“Does the name Rayne mean anything to you?”

Truck’s brows furrowed again. “Like the water from the sky? Just that we’ve been in this damn country so long, I think I’ve forgotten what it looks like.”

“What about Emily? Kassie? Annie?”

“Are those the chicks you’ve lined up for when we get to Kuwait for our R&R?” Truck asked.

“No. Think, Truck. What about Mary?”

“I don’t know anyone named Mary. What’s going on?”

Instead of answering, Ghost patted Truck’s chest. “These are our friends,” he told him, gesturing to Lefty and the others. “They were helping us. Don’t shoot them, okay?”

“Where’s Hollywood?”

“He’s fine. I swear. He’s traveling ahead of us, making sure the coast is clear.”

Truck seemed to ponder that information for a moment before nodding.

“You ready to get out of here?” Ghost asked.

Truck nodded again. “Think I can get a painkiller? My head really hurts. It’s hard for me to even see straight.”

“Of course.” Then for the second time, Truck was helped to his feet by his teammates. But this time they all exchanged worried glances. They helped Truck to a beat-up truck nearby, one without any kids in it, and got him situated in the back seat.

Ghost watched in silence then turned when he felt a hand on his arm.

“Amnesia?” Trigger asked softly.

“Looks that way. He must’ve hit his head on a metal box we found behind him.” Ghost shook his head. “Rattled his brain. Fuck. This is bad.”

“I’m sure it’s temporary. Once his brain has had a chance to heal, he’ll remember,” Trigger offered tentatively.

“I hope so,” Ghost said. “I sure as fuck hope so.”

Chapter Five

Mary was sitting on the couch watching the first season of Stranger Things on Netflix. She couldn’t wait for Truck to get home to watch it with her. Of course, she wasn’t going to wait for him to get home to watch it herself. She’d be more than happy to see it again and catch all the things she was sure she was missing this time around.

She was still binging on it when there was a knock on the door.

Surprised, Mary paused the show and headed for the door. Truck’s apartment felt more like home than her own did at this point. Of course, without Truck there, it simply felt empty…much like her own apartment.

Looking through the peephole, she saw Hollywood standing there.

Internally freaking out, Mary quickly unlocked the door and took the chain off. She whipped the door open and before Hollywood could say anything, she blurted, “Is Kassie okay? Kate?”

Hollywood nodded and said, “Yes. They’re both fine.”

“Thank God,” Mary said, resting a hand on her chest in relief. Opening the door wider, she gestured for him to enter. “Come on in.”

“Thanks.”

Mary followed Hollywood inside and locked the door behind them as Truck had taught her. She never used to worry about locking up when she was home, but since living with Truck, and watching him constantly worry about her safety, it had become a habit.

Hollywood stopped just inside the living room and turned to her. “I have some bad news.”