The Heart's Shrapnel (15 page)

He kisses me again, but this time, he gently nudges my mouth open with his tongue. I graciously accept the invitation, run my hands up his arms, glide them over his broad shoulders, and down the hard length of his back. Just feeling his many scars brings tears to my eyes. Why would anyone want to hurt him?

Lips press against my cheeks before they kiss each of my eyelids. “Don’t cry.”

“I can’t help it,” Grabbing his face once again, I tilt my head and kiss him. Our lips reconnect as our tongues glide against each other; slow and sensuous.

Phillip pulls away and sits up. For a second, I think he’s going to stop, but he surprises me when he holds his hand out.

Placing mine in his, I remove the covers as he grabs my thigh. In one swift motion, he shifts me onto his lap.

I gasp.

He grabs the neck of my loose-fitting T-shirt and ever so slowly draws it down, exposing my shoulder. The cool air causes my skin to break out in goosebumps as he leans in and places a soft kiss there, stealing away my strength. My muscles go lax and my head tips back from the pleasure. Phillip supports my neck with his hand before he gently bites the crevice of my neck.

I moan, and it spurs him on. With his other hand, he grasps at my hips, bringing me closer to his hard length.

“Phillip,” I sigh into his mouth. I’m about ready to run my hands over his pecs, but he grabs my wrists and pulls away.

He’s panting heavily but doesn’t continue with our kiss. “I’m sorry. I don’t think this is a good idea.”

His eyes meet mine as I wonder if it’s something I’ve done.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No . . . no, Jane, it’s nothing that you’ve done. You’re perfect,” he rasps.

I’m confused. “Then . . . I don’t understand.”

“I’m a bastard for letting it get this far. But, this can’t happen. Not this way.”

What does he mean by that?

Oh.

“Um . . . its okay. I just thought—I guess I shouldn’t have assumed you liked me in that way. It’s fine,” I say and start to move off his lap, but he grabs my arm.

“Don’t for one second think that I don’t want you.”

Searching his face, I try to look for any clues to suggest that he might be lying. But, just like the other times, he’s hard to read.

“Listen, Jane” he continues. “I’m going to check in with base. I’ll be back in just a few minutes.” He gets out of bed and throws on a shirt. The bulge in his pants does not escape my notice.

I feel the spot next to me. “Come back to bed.”

He comes over to me and bends down. His hands grab my face and he kisses me. It’s an apology kiss.

He breaks the kiss all too soon. “Lock the door behind me.”

He slips out of the room. Something in the way he practically jerked away from me is alarming. If he would just tell me what’s bothering him, maybe I could help. But, I get the feeling that may be like pulling teeth.

Wes

“Yes, sergeant. Will that be all?” The woman on the line asks. After I called in and made up some bull for needing to see Kevin, but couldn’t remember his last name because he was not one of my men, the woman was able to provide me with the answer.

Keven Foster.

Base is only about a mile back. My foot can’t press on the gas hard enough.

I had to leave when I did. Hearing Jane sigh my dead twin brother’s name was like a bucket of ice cold water. Yes, she isn’t the wiser. But she has to keep believing that’s who I am—forever. And I nearly compromised that.

The way her skin felt, pressed firmly against mine, was like a drug, and gave me the only peace I’ve felt in a long while. It reminded me what I’m missing. But, I just couldn’t do it.

I finally come upon the campsite. They recognize me from my uniform. I always keep one in my vehicle. After walking around a few foxholes with sleeping men and nodding at a few soldiers keeping watch for the night, I ask one of them to lead me to Kevin. When I explained how he arrived a few days ago and gave them his last name, they knew where he was.

His back is turned to me when I find him in the tent. He’s taking a drink of water and doesn’t see me. The man takes care of himself. But, he’s about six inches shorter than me. Still intimidating to Jane, but puny as shit to me.

“Excuse me. Are you Private Foster?”

He turns around, his forehead forming a deep V. He looks me over, taking note of my rank on my uniform. “Private first class, actually.”

God, would I love to wipe that smug look off his face. I don’t know what the hell Jane ever saw in him. I suppose he’s good looking in the country club, golf player kind of way.

“I’m Sergeant McClintock, and I need to have a few words with you . . . alone,” I say loud enough for the others to hear. When the sound of their footsteps retreat, I continue, “It has come to my attention that you may or may not know who I am. Is that correct?”

His eyes widen just a fraction, and his mouth lifts at the corner. “Oh, yes. I know you. You’re that prick who had his paws all over my woman. And I’ve got news for you. She’s mine. And you’re going to do exactly as I say and move on.”

I take a purposeful step. I’m so close I can see the pores on his face. To the untrained eye, they wouldn’t have seen Kevin slightly flinch backward. He’s afraid—a coward in every way that counts.

After grabbing him by the collar, I pick him up so his feet dangle above the ground. I make sure my voice is low and gruff. I want him to know I’m in charge, not him. “Do you have any idea what I could do to you?”

Kevin swallows. “You won’t do shit because you’d lose your position.”

I fist his collar tighter. “That’s what you think.”

His eyebrows furrow for a brief second. “You’re really into her, aren’t you? Maybe I should let you have her. She’s just a dumb bitch who’s been used by me anyway. I—”

I throw him to the side.

He stumbles to the ground but quickly gets back up.

“Say something like that about her again. Go ahead. I want you to,” I tell him.

He dusts off his pants. “You mean like how I had her in the shower? How I got to feel her wet skin all over mine as she screamed my na—”

Green light.

Charging him, I reel my arm back, and with a force I’ve never used before, I punch him in his jaw. He goes down in one swift blow, his head ricocheting off the ground. I straddle him, bend down, and lift him by the collar again. I pound his nose this time and it cracks, a swollen dislocated bulb dripping blood into his mouth.

I shake him, and he peels his eyes open groggily.

“Make no mistake. If you come near her again, breathe her name, or have a thought about her, I will know . . . and you won’t like what I do next.”

Pushing him down, I walk out of the tent where a group of soldiers have gathered, attracted to the scene, and stare at me as I walk by, no doubt wondering what all the ruckus is about.

“Private First Class Foster will need medical attention. Don’t rush.”

I’ve nearly forgotten to contact my men for an update. Did they find anything? Once I’m in my truck, I call. It’s just as I expected . . . nothing.

Jane will probably be pissed if she finds out what happened to Kevin . . . when she finds out. But, I get it now. When Jane said she wanted to be the woman she was before, she was referring to before that prick. He’s an asshole if I ever saw one.

I spend the short ride back cursing myself for getting too attached, and worse yet, letting her get attached to me. The last time I cared about someone, she drew blood.

She’s asleep when I enter. She’s nestled in my bed, her arms wrapped tightly around my pillow. I stop in front of the bed and look at her. I’d do anything for this woman.

I turn around, fix the covers on the other bed, and lay down when I hear her.

“Lay with me,” she says. Her voice is filled with sleep. She reaches a hand out, and I get up and take it in mine. I kiss the top and let go to remove my shirt. Her eyes roam the front of me. The knowledge that she wants me doesn’t do anything for my strict resolve not to touch her. But, I’ll sleep next to her.

She scoots over enough for me to fit. The spot she was lying in is warm and inviting.

“Where were you?” she asks. When I don’t respond, she says, “Never mind. Doesn’t matter.”

I breathe a sigh of relief, but then she turns over with her back to me. I’m unsure what to do and how much of me she wants right now. Before I drive myself nuts over the answer, she reaches for my arm, pulling it over her as she snuggles in next to me. Her hair is up in a loose bun. I silently thank her as it allows me to breathe her in right at the back of her neck. She makes everything better. Wrapping her tighter, I doze off into a sound sleep.

***

“How far away is the base camp where Mayfield is being held?” I ask Leonard after making sure Jane is safely inside the mobile hospital. The morning was perfect and agonizing all in one. I had almost forgotten what it felt like to wake up to a woman in my bed. I found her staring at me while running soft circles in my days old beard. My dick stirred to attention, and as much as I wanted to take care of it, a cold shower was my only option. Besides, Jane had to be back early.

“About twenty minutes. Look, man, if you want some alone time, you better hurry. I can’t keep the feds from taking him. And if the boss calls and finds out that—”

“Yeah, I know. I’m done,” I interrupt him. He’s just looking out for me—always has. But this time, he has to let me do my own thing. “I’ll be there soon. Once I arrive, you are to leave. Understand me? I won’t have you getting tangled in any part of this.”

“Not a chance. If this means this much to you, then it means that much to me. I’ve got your back, remember?”

“Thanks.” Ending the call, I toss the phone in the passenger seat and think about what I’m going to say when I get in there. I want answers, and I won’t leave until I have them.

“Wes, he’s all yours, man,” Leonard says as we make our way into the building where they’re holding General Mayfield. “As I said, you only have safely twenty minutes. The feds should be here a little after 0900 to retrieve him.”

“Twenty is all I need,” I say as I open the door and walk in. Mayfield is sitting in the middle of the room with his hands bound by handcuffs.

“Phillip,” he greets me. He's sitting at a desk, so I position myself across from him. “Or should I call you, Wes?” He laughs. “I couldn’t believe it at first. I mean, a dead man comes back to life. My most trusted official said he saw Phillip walking around on post back in Germany. Imagine my surprise. So, I pulled Phillip’s file, and bang . . . it all made sense, Phillip’s identical twin brother—Wes McClintock.”

“And yet you did nothing?”

“How could I? It would only raise more suspicion. You know that. Keeping you close was a better option.”

I lean in, tired of the small talk. “You tried to outsmart me. Guess it didn’t work.”

Mayfield smirks. “I did for a while.”

“You’re in deep waters. We have proof you assisted in the trading of women for money, not to mention the selling of weapons you stole from the army.”

“You don’t have shit!” he shouts. “Don’t forget I’m always one step ahead of you. I have eyes and ears in this place. I’m a well-respected general in the United States A—”

“Shut the hell up!” I jump up, walk around the table, and lean over so I’m at eye level with him. “You’re nothing now. Soon the world will see you as a traitor and a terrorist. The only view you’ll get is behind the metal bars of a prison cell.”

“As if you would know.” He glares at me. “Found out from your pal, Leonard, you’re CID. So, you don’t make any of these calls. You’re just a print duster and note scribbler so dissatisfied with his duties that he has to pretend to be something else. Someone more valuable.”

I wait until he’s done to respond. “You’re right. I don’t make the call as to what happens to you, but you will have to live with the fact that I’m the one who got you there.”

Mayfield’s lips thin in a straight line as his eyes harden.

“Who killed my brother? I know it wasn’t you. You’re the puppeteer who pulled the strings, right? Never the one to get messy.”

“Go to hell!”

Lunging, I wrap my arm around his throat, cutting off most of his air supply. His face turns a nice shade of red and purple. “Who killed Phillip? I won’t ask you again,” I grate out. “You said you have an informant. Who is he?”

Mayfield starts gasping for air as his bound hands try to grasp at my hands. A few moments later, he starts saying something, but I can’t make it out. It’s too muffled.

“What did you say?” I ask as I release him and take a step back.

Wheezing, he takes a few minutes before saying, “I had fun watching. Your brother died a slow, painful death. We made sure the bullet nicked his heart and then let him bleed out.”

He’s lying. He was surprised to see me a few days after Phillip was shot and supposedly killed. Even if he was originally there to witness the shooting, there’s no way he would have risked staying to make sure he was dead. No, his informant would have done that. Regardless, his words don’t sit well.

“You bastard!” I charge him again as the door bursts open.

“Wes! Stop! What are you doing?” Leonard grabs me by the shoulders, prying me off Mayfield.

“He knows who killed Phillip, Leonard. He’s just admitted to it.” Leonard keeps his hands pressed against my chest, making sure I don’t move.

“We already suspected that, remember? You need to keep your cool, or you’re going to regret it in a few minutes.” He looks over at Mayfield. “As for this piece of shit, he’ll get what he deserves. You have to trust that the appropriate authorities will do the right thing. His reputation will be ruined in about an hour anyway. Come on. Let’s go. Our time here is done, man.”

“I’m not done here. There’s still more investigating I have to do.”

“We have the nucleus, Wes.” Pointing a finger at Mayfield, he continues, “They can get him to talk. We’ve done what we came here to do, and that was to find evidence. We have—you have. It’s time to move on.”

I look him dead in the face. “If you think for a second that this is over, you’re mistaken. Because once he leaves, someone will take over. And I’m going to find out who it is. If you need to go, then go.”

Leonard leans in and whispers, “You know it’s not about that. I have more cases that need investigating. You’re doing this for your brother, but there’s only so much a CID agent can do. You need time to grieve and get some closure.”

“No. All of that can wait. You go ahead. It’s okay. You’ve been a big help. The others have left anyway. I’ll tell Dylan to pack it in as well.”

“I think he’s staying.”

“He is?” I ask. “I don’t need him anymore. Just tell him it’s fine.”

“Well, he’s just as stubborn as you are. But, I’ll try to talk some sense into him. Now go. Get out of here. I’ll talk to the boss about you requesting more time.”

“Thanks, Leonard.” Taking one last look at Mayfield, I say, “Until we meet again.”

I make it back to base to my tent as Ryan comes in.

“Jesus, man. Where have you been?” he asks.

“I had to get Jane and keep her for the night in case the person who attacked her came back,” I say as I sit on my cot.

“That’s right. Did you find out who it was? We’re talking about Jane. She’s like the ultimate good girl. Who’d want to hurt her?”

“Her ex,” I answer.

“He’s army?”

“Yes. And apparently he’s also a dick. But he’ll be back for her. I know he will.” The way I took care of him testifies to that. I will have to keep Jane close.

Ryan comes over to sit next to me. “What are you going to do, Phillip? You have your own set of responsibilities here. You’re a sergeant. Your priorities are with us. Not to sound like a dick myself, but you know what I mean.”

I’m so tired of this shit. Tired of lying. Tired of running around in circles. And tired of people I care about getting hurt. I wish I could tell Ryan that his best friend, his
real
best friend, is dead. He doesn’t deserve this. The worst part is when this is all over, he’ll discover it when I just up and leave and learn about it on the news—the worst way for someone to find out.