“You too, Lote.”
We took a swig in silence, then Forrest’s expression turned murderous. “You’re fuckingkidding.”
I twisted in my seat to see Ward tucking his beret into his uniform belt as he entered the bar.
“Is he for real right now?” I exclaimed.
“That guy literally has zero common sense. You’re not fucking welcome in here,” Forrest yelled across the room.
Ward’s eyes snapped up and locked on us. A leer wove onto his face, and he detoured in our direction.
My entire body primed and the beer sat forgotten in front of me when Ward’s hands pressed onto our tabletop.
“The fuck do you want?” I snapped.
“You boys having a little debrief, huh? Or are you plotting other lies to spin?”
“They aren’t lies, and you know it,” I spat.
He shrugged. “Meh, the truth is in the eye of the beholder.”
“Fuck off,” Forrest growled from behind his bared teeth.
Ward had the foolish sense to laugh. “Too bad you boys didn’t heed my warning. Watch your fucking backs.” He pushed off the table and gave a venomous smile that turned my blood hot with fury.
“Don’t,” Forrest warned.
My back pricked with heat, which had me shifting uncomfortably in the seat. I couldn’t wait to strip out of my uniform for the day and find something cool to lie on.
“I’m good.” I drank back the rest of my beer in one long pull, then set the empty bottle on the table. “But I’m out. Can’t stand being in the same room as him, let alone while trying to have a quiet drink.”
“No worries, brother. I’ll hang around for a beer or two with the guys. They’ll be here any minute.”
“Catch you tomorrow.”
He lifted his bottle in salute. “Livin’ the ‘Merican dream.”
I snorted and left him to it. After another gruelling day, I was exhausted. I never thought I’d see the day when I questioned how much more of myself I had left to give to the Army. I thrived on the pride my status within the Green Berets brought, but hated the part that no one else saw. The death. The destruction. My soul turning darker with every deployment. My head telling my heart it had grown too insensitive, but my heart not giving a fuck.
Not giving a fuck until my phone vibrated in my hand.
Not giving a fuck until the millisecond I opened the message from an unknown number.
Not giving a fuck until pictures of Sadie riding someone else’s dick flashed up on the screen.
CHAPTERTWO
Dante
Anger and betrayal filled my veins. Each yard closer to home, the further my blood boiled. I didn’t stand for deception and dishonesty, and I sure as hell expected my girlfriend to be loyal andfaithful.She knew dating a military man—a Green Beret, at that—wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but apparently, that gave her reason enough to grow a wandering vagina.
The front door of our military house slammed against the entrance wall as I bulldozed through it.
I made it halfway down the short hallway before Sadie appeared in the kitchen doorway, hazel eyes wide and stricken. The same eyes I’d have done anything for… Until now.
“Fuck, Dante! What the hell?”
“You!” I stabbed a finger, absolutely seething and hoping I was jumping to incorrect conclusions.