Page 95 of Keeping a Warrior

“For believing me.”

Rhys led her toward his hooch, and once inside, he pulled her into his arms. At first she held herself stiff, then slowly, gradually, relaxed against him.

“I wasn’t going to report it back then,” she whispered. “I know how it works.”

Rhys knew how it worked, too. In the military, sexual assaults were reported to the perpetrator’s chain of command, and that person would get to decide what to do. Heaven help the woman—or man—whose perpetrator was the chain of command.

“But you changed your mind and reported it?”

“No.” Devon gave a bitter snort. “They did. Went to the CO and told them a party had gotten out of hand, consensual sex had gotten a little rough, and they wanted him to know their side of the story first.”

Rhys closed his eyes. Right then, it was game over.

“The CO brought me in to hear my side,” Devon went on. “Want to know what he said? That if I was being raped, why didn’t I scream? Why didn’t I fight? Why didn’t I say no and make them stop?” Her voice grew ragged. “Because I didn’t do any of those things, he told me I didn’t get to come in there and ruin some good men’s careers because I regretted having sex.”

All Rhys could do was hold her close.

“I was transferred out the next day with a letter of reprimand. The CO said I was lucky that I wasn’t being charged with adultery, too, since two of the guys were married.”

The fury coursing through Rhys was making him shake. With all his might, he tamped it down. “Nothing happened to your assailants?”

“As far as I know, the ones who actually assaulted me are still SEALs and have gotten promotions.” Her voice was hard. “Of course, the one who laughed and egged them on is dead.”

“While you were sent to a transportation battalion.”

Devon smiled against his throat. “Which turned out to be the best thing that could’ve happened to me. Those guys were the most loyal, amazing guys I ever met. The women drew me in and supported me. We went through some shit together and came out as lifelong friends.”

They were silent for long minutes while Rhys rocked Devon in his arms, loving how she melted against him, the gift of her trust bringing tears to his own eyes.

At last she pulled away. “I need some time alone, okay? I’ll find you later.”

When she pulled open the door, Sayed was standing right outside, his hand raised to knock. “Doc? There’re some people out here to see you.”

Scrubbing his hand over his beard, Rhys nodded, his eyes following Devon as she disappeared around the corner.

“Hey, Sayed. Send them in.”

Devon leaned against the wall of the compound and watched as Hank and his recon team loaded their Humvee.

She glanced over when Matt came to prop his shoulder next to her.

“You okay?”

Devon shrugged. “As okay as I can be, I guess.”

Matt studied her with his intense dark eyes. “I don’t even know what to say, Devon.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” Devon stared in Hank’s direction. “During the course of your military career you’re going to run into stories like mine over and over again. Believe women, Matt. That’s all I can tell you. Just believe women.”

He reached out and squeezed her shoulder just as a mighty explosion rocked the ground and sent a plume of dust up into the air.

“Get down!”

Matt dragged Devon to the ground and covered her with his body. Devon’s ears rang with the blast, but no more explosions followed the first one.

She sat up shakily. “What happened?”

Booted feet crunched in the dirt as Hank and his fire team flung themselves down next to Devon and Matt in the shelter of the building they were huddled against. “It came from right outside the wire,” Hank gasped, “over to the east.”