AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Twenty-Six
Honor
I was beyond trying to find things to do to keep me busy outside of work. I had less than two weeks left in the Green Zone and then that was that. I was on a plane back to California and back to my old life. Only it wasn’t my old life. It had all changed now. Axel Walker had changed everything. And I couldn’t deny that fact. I refused to let myself think the worst—he was out there, somewhere—and he would return to me, somehow, some way.
I decided to go for a run, which is the last thing anyone from back home would expect me to do but I had already cleaned up my apartment from top to bottom, was three days ahead of scheduled in filing my latest story for my editor, and it was either get some exercise or head to the canteen. I didn’t feel like eating much anyway.
I left my apartment and took a left, towards the direction of the medical facility. I passed a group of young military nurses, chatting excitedly about something, then I saw two soldiers, also out for a run—they barely made eye contact as they whizzed by me.
The sun was out, like it was every damn day, and I easily worked up quite a sweat. I made my way past the dorms where most of the soldiers lived, including Axe, and tried not to look up at his window as I jogged by. It would only make me cry. Although we’d spent most of our time in my studio apartment we had ventured one night to his place, I had wanted to see what it looked like. It wasn’t “against the rules” to have a girl in your residence, especially for someone as high ranking as Axe, but it was definitely frowned upon. I had felt like a teenager sneaking into a boys’ dormitory that night. We’d made love that night in his residence, quietly and quite sneakily, I was propped up against the window, anyone could have seen our naked bodies, it was so exhilarating.
As I p
assed by the medical building I suddenly started to feel light headed, maybe it was that thought of Axe and I together or maybe it was the sun—damn it was hot—all at once I felt nauseous and I started to spin. That’s not like me, I thought. I almost felt as though I might throw up. Odd, since I didn’t even have breakfast that day. Luckily a little café was nearby and I clumsily made my way to the covered patio. I took a seat and put my head between my knees.
“Whoa there,” a male voice said. “Are you okay?”
I couldn’t bear to look up, I was too dizzy. And embarrassed.
“I think so?” I confessed to the man that I wasn’t much of a runner.
“No one is in this heat,” he said in a friendly tone. “Here, drink this, it’s the only thing I trust in this country other than my men and my guns.”
The kind man, an older looking soldier, handed me an Orange Fanta and I drank it gratefully.
“Thank you so much,” I said, I felt immediately better although the dizziness hung on for a while. The man looked sweet, like an older version of Axe almost. I couldn’t help but notice he wore the same dark grey v-neck t-shirt that Axe did. Thinking of him brought a swell of tears to my eyes. I missed him so much. “I’m sorry, I am just feeling emotional for some reason.”
“Don’t mention it,” the nice man said. “Do me a favor though, you do look a little pale, especially for a California Girl, so when you’re done with the soda, head on over the medical facility and just get a quick once over, okay?”
Still dizzy, I agreed and finished my Orange Fanta without much thought. The older man left and as I made my way to the medical facility I wondered, how did he know I was from California?
Twenty-Seven
Axel
I awoke before Hannah to the sound of an English-speaking voice. I couldn’t exactly pin point an accent but a man was saying the same word over and over again, “Walker! Walker!”
Relief washed over me as I realized what was happening.
“Hannah,” I whispered, “it’s time to go home.”
She rubbed her eyes and looked up at me with a sleepy but happy grin.
“I told you to stay brave,” she teased me.
How could such a little girl be such a courageous soul, I thought. She reminded me of Honor. So brave and honest, beautiful and sweet. As the voice grew louder I allowed my mind to drift to thoughts of Honor; she would be back in my arms soon enough and all of this would be over. I wasn’t going to waste any time. Honor was the love of my life and I hoped she would understand why I couldn’t be in the Elite Force Protectors anymore. As long as I stayed part of the EFP, Honor was at risk. I just prayed she would understand and I prayed she would love me for who I was—well the real me.
“Walker!”
All of a sudden I recognized the voice. It was Ty Powers, a fellow Elite Force Protector and my best friend. Ty had clearly been called in to rescue us. I almost laughed out loud, the boys were never going to let me live this one down.
“Walker, you useless fuck, where are you?”
“Hey!” I called back, “there’s a child here. Watch your mouth!”
“Oh shit,” Ty laughed. “Sorry!”
“That’s okay,” said Hannah. “I won’t tell.”
