She mimicked my look and said, “Aiyanna.”
I held my hand out and she placed her much smaller hand in mine. “I’m Derek.”
She smirked. “Yeah, I’ve heard your friends or brothers or whatever call you that, though not very often.”
“I try to keep my distance. From everyone.”
“You’ve had a few missed calls this morning, by the way.” She nodded to my phone.
When I clicked it open there were several texts and even more calls. I didn’t know why there were any calls, the guys knew I didn’t talk on the phone. I slammed my phone onto the counter. I had missed the debriefing and we were flying out tomorrow. My mind was in a million other places. This weekend it would make ten years. How could I protect my men with that hanging over my head? Too much death.
“You okay?” Aiyanna asked.
I closed my eyes. “Where are you from?”
“Do you need a ride somewhere? Maybe back to your base?”
I nodded. “That would be great.”
“What happened last night?” She lifted a dark eyebrow.
I didn’t say anything and shouldered past her.
“Do you always do that?” she asked as she locked her apartment behind us. I grunted in response. There was absolutely no reason for me to keep speaking to her as I was. She groaned. “No wonder you don’t have a love life.”
I blinked hard. “Excuse me?”
“You’re always alone. Some of the other guys leave with girls, two of the other boys have the same women with them when they come but you are always alone. You never leave with anyone, and the only people that have been blowing up your phone this morning are the guys from your team, I would imagine. Unless you’re gay, which is totally fine, I’m not judging, just curious.”
I didn’t say anything and walked down the dimly lit hallway. She walked past me and then took a right down another corridor that had four elevators in it. She jabbed the button with her finger and didn’t look at me. Which I didn’t mind, it gave me time to really look at her. She had a strong profile. The way her jaw was clenched, I had an idea that her personality was just as strong. A few pieces of black hair licked at her face as the elevator doors opened. The few pieces of hair must have escaped her wig while she was in a hurry to walk down the hall.
When we got to the parking garage, I was somewhat surprised to find a black BMW waiting for us. She slid into the driver’s side. The interior was blacked out, just like the outside. It started with a purr. She didn’t look at me or say anything for the entire drive. When she dropped me off at the apartment, right next to my motorcycle, her sunglasses slid down her nose.
“You’re welcome.” Her voice didn’t sound smug, like I had expected it to. “Let me know if you need anything.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “How would I do that?”
She smiled as her window rolled up. “I saved my number in your phone this morning.”
Aiyanna pulled away from the parking lot and left me standing there, stunned.
Chapter Five
Derek
Brody metme at my parking spot at the base. He was annoying as hell and never took a hint. He was one of the newbies. And unfortunately, I had the pleasure of having him as a roommate.
His blonde hair was cropped short and he wore a huge grin. His uniform was pressed and wrinkle-free. Mine was not. I didn’t care. I knew it would get me in trouble. Give me the kind of attention I wanted. I could use a good beating like they gave us in BUD/S, it would make everything go away. It would make me numb. Every single member there and in my graduating class thought I was psycho.
I was psycho.
“You are in for a beating.” Brody’s voice took on an excited edge. My eyes slid to his slowly and he backed up a step. “What were you doing last night? You never came home.”
I didn’t say anything and then I saw Jace. He didn’t look enraged, but I knew it was hidden well. I didn’t like it.
“Walk with me.” His voice didn’t sound angry. I waited for it. I knew it was going to come out of nowhere. I knew I was in for the beating I wanted so badly.
We walked for a while around the base and neither of us said anything. Jace finally turned to me and I felt excitement jolt through me. Man, I was really messed up. Maybe it was why I had screwed up so badly, I wanted the punishment that would await me after.
