Austin - Piper Stone Page 0,13
was just another reminder of everything I missed. When he handed me the glass, I didn’t think before taking it with my injured hand.
“Jesus Christ, buddy. What the fuck?”
“It’s nothing,” I insisted, pulling away from him.
“That’s bullshit. I have a first aid kit and you’re going to let me tend to that burn. That’s an order, soldier.” He placed his glass on the counter with a hard thud, moving toward the door leading to a hallway.
“I don’t have to follow your orders any longer.”
He stopped short, exhaling. “Nope. You’re right. You don’t.”
When he walked away, I hissed, rubbing my eyes. What the hell was wrong with me? I’d never felt so damn uncomfortable, unable to let go of the past. When he returned, he refused to look me in the eyes as he smacked the kit onto the counter next to his drink. “You want to tell me what happened? You have what’s likely a second degree burn on your hand and your face is covered in smoke residue.”
“Not much to tell,” I said half under my breath.
Hawk shot me a look before snapping the box open, digging through the contents. “You should have that looked at by a professional, but I know I’m wasting my breath.”
“Yeah, you are.”
After he found gauze and medical tape, he merely tossed them onto the counter, grabbing his drink and walking toward the kitchen window, staring out into the darkness. “The guys were worried about you.”
“You know I can take care of myself.” I took another gulp before easing the drink down and grabbing the gauze, yanking it from the plastic packaging.
“That’s what you’ve always told everyone. A lone wolf preferring to fight the good fight alone.”
I bristled all over again, trying to keep from biting his head off. “I had my reasons just like you and the rest of the guys.”
“True enough. Damn, you look different, buddy. When did you shave your head?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “A few months ago. Seemed like the right thing to do.”
“Uh-huh and you’ve bulked up by at least forty pounds. More tattoos?”
“Just a few.” I liked my ink, had enjoyed every minute of getting the works of art.
“You always were a free spirit. You staying?”
As I started wrapping my hand, I thought about his question. “I’m not entirely certain. Part of me wants to. The other? I need a place that feels like home.”
“That’s the way I felt when I returned after Drake’s death. I was angry with the world, but Ashley needed me. Hell, so did the ranch. I made the decision to try and make it a home. Meeting Bryce was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“I’m glad for you, Hawk, but I’m not interested in settling down just yet.”
He laughed, lifting his glass. “Never say never, my friend. You probably haven’t heard about the ladies in the rest of the guys’ lives.”
No, I hadn’t. I tried to smile, uncertain how I felt about it, although who they shacked up with was none of my damn business. When I was finished, I flexed my fingers, my thoughts drifting back to Franny. She’d felt so damn good in my arms. Shit, my cock stirred just thinking about her. “That’s nice for you guys, really. Like I said, I’m happy for you.”
I closed the lid and grabbed my drink, sad that I had very little to say to him.
“I need to tell you something and I know it’s not what you’re going to want to hear. I don’t know if you’ve heard but someone in the upper brass is still trying to make a big deal about the mission we were on. There was a huge shakeup of the commissioned officers, so someone got a bug up their ass that they need to provide a big win. I guess our failed mission is the perfect scapegoat.”
The mission we fucked up.
“Yeah, I heard,” I answered, enjoying the liquor more than I should.
“I’m surprised since no one has heard from you in months. Who’d you hear that from?”
“I have my sources.” I’d listened in on conversations from other soldiers during visits to cheap bars.
“Wow, you’re a hard man, Vader. I don’t know what to think any longer. You disappear. We all thought you were dead. Hell, I don’t think there was a single one of us who didn’t try to hunt you down. You just freaking disappeared.”
Shrugging, I finished the rest of the glass. “I needed time, Hawk.” I walked away from the island, moving toward