Page 39 of Hard Corps (Selected Sinners MC 7)

I reached for the yearbook, accepted it as she handed it to me, and held it gingerly in my hands as I looked down at his photo and recalled the day he died. I felt my lower lip begin to quiver as I considered where I would be in his absence.

Although I had no intention of doing so, I began to speak.

“We followed two of them onto the roof of a building. They’d shot one of the Marines on my team as soon as we’d entered the building. It was Cunningham and I who followed them. I had a feeling. You know that deep down in your gut feeling?”

For some reason I paused and turned toward Mr. Ripton. He nodded his head once as if giving me permission to continue. With glazed over eyes I continue to stare down at the page and recite the events of that awful day.

“Well, I was right,” I said. “One of them stepped out from behind a structure on the roof they were using for cover, I missed him. Didn’t see a thing. Billy Ray stepped in front of me and…”

“Lance Corporal Cunningham was struck by enemy fire, and I returned…”

I paused, realizing I was reciting the words that had been written on the daily report. Words that had stuck in my head for years. I took another slow breath, regained my composure, and continued. I needed to tell the story. I owed it to him.

“He acted like it didn’t faze him. I imagine it was adrenaline. Either that or desire. You know, in hindsight, it was probably courage.”

I paused and inhaled a shaky breath. “He returned fire. Hit the guy in the hand, chest, and torso. I returned fire, killing the second gunman. Cunningham died right there on the roof. He uhhm. He had a daughter.”

I glanced up from the yearbook and fixed my eyes on Katie.

“She’s uhhm. She’s probably,” Katie said, pausing as she counted on her fingers.

“She’s probably six or seven now,” she nodded.

“I’d like to meet Cunningham’s wife,” I said as I handed her the yearbook.

“I know where she used to live. I bet I can find her,” Katie grinned as she accepted the yearbook.

I nodded my head, walked to my seat, and sat down. Most people, if given an opportunity to truly know me, know my inner workings, and know just exactly who I was, would be of the opinion that I was not a man who was close to God. The truth would be quite the contrary. God was my only true guidance in life, and although I often did things people would perceive as evil, I believed I was always acting as a man who administered God’s will. Sitting in the chair gazing blankly across the table at Katie, hoping I may be able to find the wife of the man who saved my life, I began to understand I was exactly where I needed to be when I needed to be there.

Sitting silently, still in somewhat of a trance, Ripp broke the silence.

“If we aren’t focused on living life to the best of our ability, we’re slowly dying a death that’s of our own choosing. The odd thing is we get to pick the course we take. Why would someone choose not to live life at full capacity?” he said.

Kace chuckled. “Wow. I like that. Who said that? I know it’s not a Ripp original.”

“My father. Jack Ripton,” Mr. Ripton responded.

“Come on everybody. Let’s get out of here,” Ripp said as he stood from his seat.

“Where we going, Ripp? Huh?” Austin asked.

“We’re all gonna go pound down some beers, see if we can get in a fight, and then I’m going to take Vee home and fuck her until she passes out,” Ripp responded.

I waited for the axe to fall, alternating glances between Mr. and Mrs. Ripton. Although they said nothing regarding his comment about fucking Vee, Vee slapped her hand against Ripp’s shoulder and gave him the stink eye.

“Michael, we don’t like it when you get in bar fights,” his mother said softly.

“Damn it, Mike,” his father said as he dropped his fork onto his plate.

Ripp shook his head and pressed the web of his hands into his hips. “Pop. Just hold on a minute. Here’s the deal. I can’t change whoI am. I like fuckin’ and I like fightin’. Today’s a victory for me. A big one. I’m going to celebrate. Doing the two things I love. Come on, let’s get out of here. Bug, Manda, this includes you.”

As Katie jumped excitedly from her seat, we once again made eye contact. I was pleased that she was going to be included in our evening out on the town.

I was damned sure there wasn’t going to be any fucking on my part, but I wouldn’t have made any promises on the fighting.

I had a sinking feeling two professional boxers, a boxer in training, and a Marine were sure to get into some kind of trouble.

I just hoped I had a few minutes to get to know Katie a little bit better before it happened.