Page 2 of Luck Be Mine
Cait woke in a panic from a dream that made no sense. Floating on a sea of pain and deeply uncomfortable in her hospital bed, her entire existence had shrunk to this room.
Day ten since the explosion, she still struggled to stand. Weak muscles and her balance off accompanied every try. Her head ached in a constant throb. Her broken arm was in a pretty blue cast but remained taped against her side so she wouldn’t move her damaged shoulder. Her ribs were wrapped, every breath ached. Her broken fingers had been intricately taped in place, but she couldn’t feel that because her entire left hand was numb. Maybe nerve damage. She’d had three surgeries – one on her hip and two on her shoulder. She felt broken, mentally and physically. Pain and tears left her impatient and desolate.
“Here, drink a bit.” The rough, deep rumble of Hunt’s voice rolled over her like a comforting blanket.
She sipped and sighed as the dryness in her throat eased. “Hunt? I’m grumpy.”
“You’re allowed, honey. We have you.” Hunt leaned in and stroked her hair. “I have you.”
From Lucky Charm, Book 1, The Defenders
Part I
“You’ve never lived until you’ve almost died.
For those who have fought for it,
life has a flavor the protected shall never know.”
Anonymous, Military Aphorism
B E F O R E
Chapter One
January 20, 2020 - Homecoming
◊ Seven Weeks Since Injury ◊
Travis Hunter, U.S. Navy Lieutenant, SEAL Team Three, had days like everyone else where he mentally beat himself up for things gone wrong. At this moment, he climbed the stairs to his San Diego apartment with his new wife, Army Captain Cait Michaels Hunter, in his arms.
Fifteen steps.
Each one forced a worry his new marriage was headed for another crisis. They’d already survived more than one disaster since Afghanistan. Without all their ducks in a row, the reality of their quick marriage was about to be tested.
His apartment.
He had a bed which Cait needed desperately. The long day of travel had left her shaky, in horrible pain, yet soldiering on.
His place had power and water. Maybe. Payments were on auto-withdrawal, but best laid plans sometimes went awry.
The coffee pot worked. There was no coffee or food in the fridge or cupboard. The used kitchen table had one chair. It was all he needed when he cleaned his gun.
No sofa.
His gun safe and foot lockers decorated the bedroom.
Because he was never here. He stored things here. Slept here when necessary.
But he didn’t want his new wife thinking he would toss her aside like some broken part of his non-existent personal life.
Consider this: thirty-five years old and he finallyhada personal life.
That stopped him cold. He was a SEAL. He could adapt to anything. But this? A life with someone who mattered? It was new ground.
But life could go wrong. Fast.
He wanted Cait as part of his future, and he would never accept how close he’d come to losing her.
