Page 82 of Stone

Without thought, I took my shot.

An almighty blast boomed from below, and I watched, fascinated, as a fireball rose up through the air.

“Direct hit. Direct hit,” sounded through my comms just as a loud cackle of laughter filled the helicopter behind me.

My heart jerked because, for a second, the bark sounded just like Dad, except it wasn’t, though Sergeant Cox was probably just as crazy. In his own fucked-up way.

I cracked my neck from side to side, pulling my legs back inside the helo and sitting back against the metal wall.

Looking up, my lips twitched at the sight of Cox as his loud, excited laughter roared over the sound of the engine and blades as the helo swung right to return to base.

“Congratulations, boys,” he yelled, leaning over and giving me a hard clap on the shoulder. “Looks like the U.S. Marine Corps just got itself a new sniper team. Welcome aboard.” He grinned, showing me a flash of even, white teeth. “Rest assured; it all goes the fuck downhill from here.”

It took us until the next day to get back to Camp Pendleton. On my first night, I debriefed, grabbed something to eat, andgot reacquainted with my environment. As soon as I settled, I grabbed my mail and began to sort through the envelopes.

I stilled as I came across Leesy’s first letter. Even seeing her pretty, cursive handwriting brought a lump to my throat. Lying back on my bed, a broad smile automatically stretched across my face. I hadn’t spoken to her for weeks. Training had made me a ghost, and I knew she’d be confused by my silence.

Bracing, I tore open the envelope, my heart fluttering as her jasmine scent washed over me. I began to read her words, almost drinking them in and smiling at how upbeat she seemed. However, over the next ten minutes, as I read through her letters, the flutter turned into an ache.

Elise was beside herself with hurt and upset, and I knew immediately how badly I’d fucked up. I should’ve taken time to call her house, but I trusted Dad to smooth things over for me. She was stressing out with worry and pressure, and I couldn’t believe Pop had let it happen.

Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I shot out of there, sprinting down the stairs and running toward the recreation area. My heart thudded uncomfortably in my chest at the mere thought of the state Elise was in.

I needed to call my girl, pronto.

“John?” Elise breathed.

I closed my eyes, cursing the heavens at how tiny her voice sounded. “Baby,” I murmured. “I’m here.”

A tiny sniff sounded, followed by a quiet choking noise, and then, to my horror, she began to sob quietly.

My fucking world tilted on its axis.

Elise was nothing but sweet and kind, but she wasn’t a crier. Throughout everything I’d put her through, she’d hardly shed atear—not to my face anyway—so to hear her so utterly distraught made my throat burn.

“I’m sorry,” I croaked. “I was sent away for intense training, and I couldn’t contact you. I told Dad to let you know I was okay. Didn’t he say anything? It’s been weeks, Leesy, he should’ve told you.” My words were just a babble, but I couldn’t think straight. Hearing her sob that way brought home what a shitty thing I’d done to her. What the fuck was I thinking by not taking one damned minute to call her before I left for training? Even just to let her know I’d be out of commission for a while.

I scrubbed a frustrated hand down my face. “Duchess, I’m sorry.”

“I—I thought s—something had happened, John. Your dad said you were doing some training, but he didn’t make it seem like a big deal. You’re always doing some kind of training exercise. I didn’t think it would affect your ability to write.” She sniffed quietly. “I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”

Pulling my collar away from my neck, I rubbed my sweaty palm down my combat pants.

Fuck!

I raised a hand to rub my forehead, pitching my voice low and true. “There will never be a day in this life, or the next, when I don’t want you, Elise Bell. Whatever happens, and wherever I go, you’re mine, and I’m yours. If you don’t hear from me for a damned year, you’ll still be mine, and I’ll still be yours. Time, distance, hell, not even death itself can’t part me from you. Do you get me?”

She sniffed again.

“Do you get me, Elise?” I reiterated.

I heard her take a deep breath. “Yeah. I get you.”

My shoulders slumped, and my head fell back forward in pure relief. “I apologize for the fuck-up, baby. I’ll speak to Dad and find out what happened. In the meantime, put pen to paperand write me, I’ll do the same tonight and explain everything. Now listen, I’ve got a weekend off base at the end of the month. If I buy your plane ticket and book us into a hotel, can you come? I’ll talk to Abe and ask him and Iris if they’ll take you and pick you up from the airport. If he’s on a run, take Bessie, and I’ll pay the parking charges, too.”

She drew a sharp intake of breath. “Oh my God. Yes. I’ll come.”

I looked up at the heavens, mouthing,thank you. “Good. Nothing’s changed. It’ll never change. I had to go dark with the type of training I had to do, Leesy, but I never meant to keepyouin the dark, too.”

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