“How did you get out of it?”
“Apparently Granger had been doing this for a while to recruits, and the Staff Judge Advocate had already started to compile a list of recruits he’d abused, which in turn had Granger court-martialed for Article 133.”
“What’s that?”
“Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentlemen and I think there were a few other charges, but I don’t remember them.”
“Shit,” Krew uttered before he leaned his seat further back. “That still doesn’t explain why you didn’t come looking for me when you got out.”
I clenched my teeth tight before I let go of the tension flooding my body. “I thought you’d be better off without me, K. That’s all. I just… Figured you were with Regi and had made a happy life. And I didn’t want to fracture anything you two had.”
“You were wrong, Deck. None of us had any happiness in our lives, especially Regi.” Krew shifted in his seat until his back was facing me. “Wake me when it’s my turn to drive.”
Krew had said I was wrong, but it was him who was wrong. For a brief period of time, I did find happiness, but then Jeromy died and I became lost again.
Regina’s Diary
April 2nd, 2023
Dear Diary,
April fools on me. Guess who showed up on my doorstep yesterday—you will never believe it.
It was Maya. My best friend from school—the same one that ghosted me for years, suddenly shows up at my apartment with no warning.
I’m still not sure how she found me—and I’m not sure how I feel about seeing her after all this time. But I let her in and we talked. She said she was sorry for not staying in touch. She sounded remorseful but something was telling me that there is more to it than she’s letting on. She’s hiding something, but in the same sense, I am too.
I don’t know how she talked me into it, but she’s moving in with me. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing. One thing is for sure, sharing the rent won’t be a hardship, since the rental prices are going up in Chicago. It only means I will have more money in my bank account.
I did break down, though, and asked if she’d seen Krew and Decker. Maya told me that she hadn’t seen them in years, and that they had moved away from Elida—the same thing she said years ago. So no news there.
My heart is still broken, Diary. But this is just another sign that it’s better for me to stay away from home and the memories the town holds.
Other than that, I’ve kept my vow of celibacy for nine months now. I’m good in my life. Happy for a change.
Write to you soon.
Regi
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Krew
We were about three hours shy of reaching Elida. After filling up in Euclid, Ohio, Decker relented and I took the driver’s seat—for first time. The man had to learn to relinquish control or he was going to grind himself down until there was nothing left.
Once we got back on the road, Decker fell asleep and I was too focused on the road and keeping my bandaged hands on the steering wheel to worry about Regina. I just hoped she didn’t do anything stupid like confront Teke.
I knew my brother well. He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt a woman. If he had the balls to assault her, there was nothing holding him back from using his fists.
That thought had me pressing my foot to the gas pedal harder.
I’d never guessed when I left home for that fight in Chicago that I’d be going back home with Decker in tow. And with Regina probably there already, all three of us will finally be back together where it all started. Something in my gut told me that our days were going to be limited. That our time with each other—our connection, was over once we found Teke.
I quickly shook my head, clearing away those dour thoughts.
As we approached Cairo, a few towns before Elida, Decker’s phone rang and the car’s Bluetooth picked up. The screen read Badass Bitch, and I knew it had to be Decker’s handler, Sabrina.
I pulled over to the side of the road and answered the call. “Decker’s asleep,” I whispered, lowering the sound.
