The Gun Runner(37)

“I’m sorry for everything,” I said. “You probably didn’t need to see me do that.”

She handed me the knife. “Didn’t bother me at all. He got what he deserved.”

“Holy shit,” Tracy said, patting me on the shoulder. “You fucked that guy’s night up. Teaches that asshat about fucking with a US Marine. I’m telling you. You just whap, whap, whap, and that knife fell out of his hand. Kicked his ass twice in one night.”

I forced a grin and shrugged.

“And I figured out where I know you from,” he said. “You’re Toni’s daughter.”

“Must have me mixed up with someone else.” She tugged against my arm.

“You’re not Anthony’s daughter?”

She shook her head. “Like I said, must have me mixed up with someone else.”

“Huh,” he said. “I would have sworn.”

“Leave them be,” his wife said. “They probably need to get out of here before the police show up.”

“She’s right,” I said. “They’ll be here before long.”

“Come on,” she whispered, pulling against my wrist. “Let’s go. That guy’s creeping me out.”

“He sure thought he knew you.”

“Well, he doesn’t.”

“You positive?” I asked jokingly.

“Yes,” she snapped back. “I’m positive.”

After a quiet walk through the parking lot, we got into the car and turned to face each other. “I’m sorry about all of that.”

“I’m sorry for being a bitch. That guy...I mean the entire...the entire thing...it just pissed me off. Bad.” She leaned toward me and puckered her lips.

I kissed her and leaned away. “I’m sorry, but I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect you. Always. I can’t turn it on and off.”

“No,” she said with a laugh. “Not him, the other guy. The one who kept looking at me and saying he knew me.”

I chuckled. “Oh. Well, he’s gone now.”

“I feel like our perfect little date was ruined,” she said.

It was disappointing to hear her say, and I didn’t share her feelings. As far as I was concerned, our night out was great. My worst night with Terra would always exceed my best night at war.

“I don’t agree with you. I guess it gets down to what your definition of perfect is, and what your expectations of life are. Life isn’t perfect, and it never will be. But a bad day with you will always be better than my best day at war.”

“So you can just accept what happened tonight as being part of life?”

“I don’t have a choice,” I said. “I can’t change it. Accepting it is all that’s left.”

“I think I could accept about anything when it comes to being with you. You know, if you did something stupid or whatever. But it’s because I know deep down inside you stand for everything that’s good. As far as life goes.” She lowered her head. “I need to work on that.”

I laughed. “I’m not planning on doing anything stupid.”

She locked her eyes on mine and shook her head lightly. “Know what?”

“What’s that?”

“Life may never be perfect, but you are,” she said.

I looked at her for a long moment. I’m sure someone could find fault in her, but I couldn’t. I liked that about her.

“And, so are you, Terra.”

So are you.





Chapter Fifteen

Terra

I was sure my father wouldn’t accept Michael, but I knew deep within my being that surviving without him wasn’t an option. When I was with him, nothing else mattered. When he was away I felt like I was choking, dying a little with each hour that passed, until he returned to my side.

I desperately wanted to talk to my brother, who I believed would be more understanding than my father, but he was out of the country on business. Left with the decision to be honest with my family about Michael or simply continue what I was doing and avoid contact with them, I chose the latter.

Michael had become my support system and my family. And I was falling in love with him a little more with each beat of my heart.

I sat anxiously at a bar with Michael, waiting to meet Cap. I was glad the day had finally come, and likened the meeting to a typical man introducing me to his family. From what Michael had said, and from what he hadn’t, it was apparent that Cap was all the family he had.

I noticed a massive man with a military-style haircut and a broad chest as he walked down the aisle toward our table. Dressed in jeans, boots and a T-shirt, he looked like someone even Michael shouldn’t cross. As his eyes fixed on us, I nervously shifted mine away.