Trusting a Warrior (Loving a Warrior #3) - Melanie Hansen Page 0,75

Rhys’s face was attractively flushed and glistening with sweat. “I wish Devon—my girlfriend—could’ve been here. She would love this.”

Devon? Why did that name sound familiar?

“She’s a badass in her own right,” Rhys went on. “This would be right up her alley.”

Ah, Devon! The CST Matt mentioned. She was Rhys’s girlfriend?

In an instant, the stupid jealousy melted away, and Geo shot him a more genuine smile. “Hey, if you wanted to bring her out sometime, we can do this all over again.”

A bemused expression crossed Rhys’s face in response to Geo’s change in attitude, but all he said was, “Awesome.”

As the guys sprawled about with water and Gatorade to take a break, Bradley approached Geo. “Impressive demo,” he said admiringly. “I can’t even imagine how many hours of training that’s taken you.”

“Bosch and I have been together for years.”

Bradley asked about their previous deployments, his interest gratifyingly sincere. They were deep into talking shop when Mullet suddenly interrupted, “You were in Kalach? Oruzgan Province? Isn’t that the outpost where the dude offed himself?”

Geo stiffened as Mullet went on, “I heard that guy was one crazy mofo. Unraveling in plain sight, and no one did jack shit about it.”

“That’s an unfair judgment.” Rhys’s voice was mild, but his eyes were like chips of ice. “Suicide deaths are very complex. His teammates weren’t responsible...”

“Bullshit.” Mullet rolled to the side and spat in the sand. “Someone’s fuckin’ crazy enough to kill themselves, those dudes shoulda seen it.” He shrugged. “Guess they figured they were all better off just lettin’ him do it.”

A bolt of white-hot anger shot through Geo. “Why don’t you shut the fuck up?” he growled. “You weren’t there.”

“Were you?” Mullet sat up, a prurient curiosity in his gaze. When he read the answer on Geo’s face, he smirked. “Ah. Was the tough love part your idea? Solved your problem, didn’t it?”

A red haze descended over Geo’s eyes, and he lunged, but Rhys was ready for him, his arms wrapping tightly around Geo’s shoulders. “Don’t give this asshole the satisfaction,” he said urgently. “Your teammate wouldn’t want this.”

Across the way, Mullet had surged to his feet and was beckoning to him, his lips twisted in a mocking grin. “Got a lesson you wanna teach me, dog boy?” he taunted. “Don’t worry. I promise not to kill myself after.”

With a howl of rage and pain, Geo fought against his bonds, dimly aware of Shane dragging Mullet out of reach, both fists twisted in the back of his shirt. “Get out of here, you colossal prick,” he snarled, shoving Mullet into the arms of his buddies, who hustled him away, their faces red with embarrassment.

The remaining guys stared at the ground, at the sky, anywhere but at Geo, discomfort written all over them. Fighting back sudden tears, and with a strength born of desperation, he wrenched away from Rhys, snatched up Bosch’s leash and strode off in the opposite direction.

Rhys and Matt appeared to walk next to him, silent while he wrestled for control. At the kennels, they leaned against the wall as he brushed Bosch’s fur clean of sand and fed him some kibble, their quiet, supportive presence along with the routine of caring for his dog bleeding away Geo’s tension and leaving a leaden sadness behind.

Back outside in the parking lot, he waved toward his bike. “That’s me. I’m gonna take off.”

“Geo...” Rhys moved around in front of him. “I don’t think you should ride right now. Please, let me drop you somewhere.”

Geo met his eyes, the empathy in them sparking fresh tears. “I’m okay,” he said thickly. “But thanks, though.”

“You don’t seem okay.” Rhys’s voice was soft. “And believe me, I know something about what you’re going through.”

Of course he did. He’d been the one to find Tyler, like Geo’d been the one to find Cade...

He shook his head, and Rhys rested a hand on his shoulder. “Let me at least put you in touch with a friend of mine, okay? She’s a suicide survivor and has recently started counseling. Her name is—”

“Oh, I’m already talking to someone,” Geo broke in hastily before Rhys could go any further. “I’m going to see her now.”

Rhys still looked troubled. “I don’t think you should ride,” he said with quiet insistence. “I’ll be happy to take you over to your friend’s.”

At the thought, an almost-hysterical laugh bubbled up in Geo’s throat. How would Rhys react upon being directed to Lani’s apartment? Was he a possessive ex? A protective one? Geo didn’t think he wanted