Alpha Male Romance(20)

“From what I hear, fighting's not gonna be an issue,” Malachi said. He leaned against the counter. “Story going around is, soldier boy came running up to a warehouse on fire, hears a kid inside screaming. He goes in, even though flames are coming through the roof, comes out a couple minutes later with this boy. Then he starts talking about how there's someone else in the building. Everyone tells him he's nuts, that it's suicide. He goes in anyway. Then, boom. The whole place explodes. And GI Joe's still alive.”

“Wow.” I leaned against the counter. “How the hell did he manage that?”

Malachi shrugged. “Beats me. Way I heard it, half a wall came down on the guy. Blew right over the man he'd gone in to rescue. That guy didn't have a scratch on him. Just some smoke damage.”

“What about the kid?” I asked. “I didn't hear anything about him being sent up to us.”

Malachi shook his head. “Don't think he was. From what I heard, he wasn't burnt. You know how it is. More people hush-hush about a kid. The hero's the one everyone's talking about.”

“So everyone's talking about him,” I said. “Anyone able to get hold of his family?”

“Don't know.” Malachi ducked down behind the counter for a moment and then came up with my purse. He handed it to me. “Honestly, I think things got a bit lost with all the crazy down here. After you took the soldier up, we had a gunshot wound, three dog bites and a bout of alcohol poisoning at a college pre-spring break party.”

“Holy hell,” I said. “I'm surprised you guys got anything done.”

Malachi shrugged. “We'd have to call the army anyway. Those boys will call the family.”

I wasn't sure if Dr. Fellner had been serious about me going to Fort Sam Houston or not, but I planned to take the opportunity for a bit of time outside. It was still nice out, and while seeing Malachi had helped me a bit, I needed some time before I could go back upstairs. Some time to get my head back together.

“I'll do it personally,” I said. Malachi gave me a strange look, but didn't press. “Dr. Fellner gave me the okay. I'll be back in a bit.”

“Here.” Malachi reached under the counter again and pulled out a plastic bag. “I had his effects ready for when we got hold of someone. It's basically just his wallet, and that's a bit crispy.”

I nodded and took it. “Thanks.”

I went through the front doors and flagged down a cab, not wanting the stress of driving. After telling him my destination, I gave in to my curiosity and opened his wallet. The face on his ID was a handsome one. Sergeant Xavier Hammond. Dark blond hair. A Pennsylvania driver's license that listed his home as Philadelphia.

I found myself staring at his picture, trying to figure out what sort of man he was, what had compelled him to go back into that building. He was a soldier, sure, but he wasn't a firefighter.

When the cab pulled up in front of the base, I paid and walked up to the gate. I squinted into the setting sun and smiled at the guard who stepped out to meet me.

“My name is Nori Prinz,” I said as I held up my hospital badge. “I'm a nurse over at the medical center. We admitted a Sergeant Xavier Hammond with severe injuries. I need to know who to speak to about contacting his family.”





Chapter Ten





Xavier





I knew pain.

I'd gotten the shit beaten out of me as a kid probably hundreds of times. Had broken bones more than once. I'd nearly been killed more times than I could count, and only some of them had been after I'd joined the army.

I'd been pushed to the brink. Baked in the desert. Frozen at night. I'd had sunburn and frostbite. Bitten by bugs I couldn't name. Ran until my legs gave out.

This was worse.

So much worse.

I was burning. The entire left side of my body was on fire. Skin, muscles, nerves. All of them were screaming. My brain was screaming. I couldn't think of anything else but that I wanted to die.

I had to die.

Because there was no way anyone could survive something like this.

I felt darkness coming and welcomed it, prayed that it would be permanent bliss.

Except the darkness brought its own kind of terror.

“Xavier! You come back here, you little bastard!” His voice boomed in the hallway. “I'm gonna beat your ass! You broke that lamp and I damn well know it!”

The leather of his belt cracked down on me, bursts of white pain as it came in contact with my cheek, my jaw. Then it came down on my arm, my back, my hip.

“What're you doing, Xavy?” Madison danced in front of me, her blonde pigtails bobbing. “Daddy just wants you to be good. Why can't you be good?”

“I tried, Maddie,” I groaned, unsure if I was actually talking or just thinking.