Claimed by My Steadfast Soldier

Chapter Two

Gage’s POV

Earlier that day

‘Avalanche! Get your head out of your ass and start f.ucking shooting at something!’ I jerk my head up immediately, turning toward the yelling voice, as my brother in arms, and team leader, Mark Hallick, who is currently crouched to my left, behind our armoured truck as explosions rain down around us from the ambush we drove into.

Next to me, my best friend Callan pops his head over the top of the truck’s hood, rifle at the ready as he showers bullets toward our enemies, before dropping down beside me again, sweat beading his brow which he wipes quickly with his dust covered hand.

‘You good?’ he yells, his gaze roaming over me, scrutinising me as only a best friend does, as I nod quickly, gripping my own weapon tighter.

The screams of women and cries of children mingle within with the gunfire, and as I steal a quick look over the top of the truck, I am bombarded with bullets that come from the broken out windows of the ramshackle buildings across from us.

A strangled scream echoes from somewhere to my right, and uttering a string of curse words, Callan dodges around the far end of the vehicle to be able to see around the back and across to where some of our teammates are pinned down by the gunfire.

‘S.hit!’ he shouts, ‘he’s hit! Rocket is hit! F.uck!’ I scramble up from my seat on the ground, looking over to a small bombed out brick wall not far from our position, my eyes widening as I focus on our team mate. Gabriel ‘Rocket’ Rodriguez glances over at me, panic etched into his face as blood pours from his shoulder like a river. His fingers scrabbling with the material of his Army issue combats, shoving under his vest, he tries to stem the flow with his hand.

Callan shakes me, ‘I’m going to go for him, cover me’ he yells, already up on his haunches as he prepares to bolt out from behind our position.

I nod numbly, turning back toward the neverending gunfire and holding up my rifle, shooting toward any of the dark windows of the derelict buildings that stands ominously across from our bullet riddled truck. Peppering the brickwork with my own bullets whilst my best friend runs crouched over toward Gabriel and slides across the desert floor behind the wall, ducking down next to the soldier, tugging the few medical supplies we carry out of his pocket and pressing them to the wound.

I get my head back into the fight, peeking over the top of the vehicle, and shooting toward the windows, hoping I’ve managed to injure at least one of the militants that currently have us pinned down.

‘S.hit!’ My attention is drawn back to Hallick who is staring open mouthed at something in one of the doorways. Following his line of sight, the air leaves my lungs as a small boy who cannot be more than eight or nine years old, stumbles out of the darkness and into the street.

Bullets are still flying around him, but that isn’t what has me frozen, it’s the wired up jacket that covers his chest. Beside me, Hallick is desperately trying to distract the enemy as Callan tries to drag Rocket to safety. I just can’t seem to move, staring at the child as he takes one step after another toward us, his eyes wide with fear.

‘Shoot him!’ Hallick roars from beside me, ‘f.ucking shoot him!’

I raise my rifle, my finger on the trigger, but I can’t force myself to tighten my grip on the trigger.

‘Avalanche! He’s going to be within range soon, take him out! Now! Before we all f.ucking die!’ I flick my gaze toward Hallick who is still raining bullets down on the invisible enemy that is hiding within the houses in front of us.

I turn back to the child, my gaze finding his, unable to look away as each hesitant step brings him closer to our truck. I can see the terror in his eyes as he approaches, he doesn’t want to be here, he doesn’t want to do this, but he has no choice. I can feel him silently begging me to help him, do something, anything to save him, but I can’t.

Everything slows down around me, like time has frozen in place, I’m trapped within a bubble with this small boy both of us caught in a moment that will define us both for eternity.

My hands are trembling, my palms are clammy as I grip the rifle, trying hard to keep my grip on my weapon as my breathing slows. I keep my gun trained on the child as my mind runs at speed, make it quick, make it clean, just another target, another danger to eradicate so we can protect the people we care about . . . .

I grit my teeth, forcing my mind away from this atrocious act in front of me, that I have to complete, I can do it, I NEED to do it, it's my job to protect my comrades from danger.

BANG!

My eyes fly open as I jolt upright in bed, my whole body shaking as the early morning light streams through the small c***k in my heavy bedroom curtains covering my window, dousing my bedroom with a glow bright enough to illuminate the dark wood furniture that decorates my bedroom.

Lifting up one of my trembling hands, I wipe it down my sweat stained face, finding my cheeks soaking from tears that I had been shedding in my sleep.

I pick up my phone from the bedside table, cursing when I see it’s already past nine. Dammit! I promised Harrison I’d go and see the office space he has found, I’m supposed to meet this realtor person at ten o’clock.

Scrambling out of bed, I forgo my usual shower, instead doing the quick flannel wash of my army days, brushing my teeth, and throwing on some clothes.

Heading out of my room, I make my way past the second bedroom and into the living room, a nice open area that houses a couch, chair, and the biggest ass television that my best friend could find. Listening, I find the place silent, empty, my best friend and roommate Callan is probably already at work. Normally I’d beat him to the kitchen, but it seems today my body decided it was going to have a lie in.

Memories of my nightmare inch into the corner of my mind and I growl loudly, pushing them back out again, locking them back up in the corner of my mind that I put them when I first set foot back on US soil. Those thoughts control my dreams every damn night, they are not going to take my days too.

I grab a coffee to go, digging through the cupboards until I find a granola bar that has been there for a dubious amount of time but seems to still be in date, before I head out of our home, setting the alarm to our apartment as I leave. I head down in the elevator, stepping out into the underground parking area, before pressing the button on my keyfob to unlock the doors.

Sliding behind the wheel, I run my hands over the well worn steering wheel, a smile teasing my lips. I love this damn truck, but neither my brother nor my best friend really understands why, I could afford a swanky SUV like Harrison, but there is just something about an old pick up that talks to me.

Heading down the driveway, I pull out onto the road and head across town to the location of the office building I’m supposed to be viewing.

It only takes twenty minutes and I find myself staring up at the imposing building with ten minutes to spare.

Climbing out, I head toward the front door, leaning against the glass door, shielding my eyes with my hands as I try to see inside. I can’t see much, and the freezing weather doesn’t make me want to lean against the glass for very long.

Straightening up, I lean against the brickwork, watching cars trundle past through the salt gritted roads, expecting each one to turn into the parking lot but none of them do.

As I wait outside of the building where I’m supposed to meet Harrison’s realtor, I run my gaze over the tarmacked space in front of me. There is ample parking here for us and our clients, the building itself is large but not cold, a well-designed sign out front and some security cameras and I can see our business setting down roots here.

My attention is caught by a feminine voice muttering behind me, and I turn around just in time to hear her grumble ‘I bet you have a small d**k, that’s why you drive such a flashy car and don’t give a s.hit about other people.’