After the War by Jessica Scott

Author:Jessica Scott [Scott, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary
ISBN: 9781942102083
Google: blnHBwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00V8A5RB8
Barnesnoble: B00V8A5RB8
Goodreads: 24737833
Publisher: Jessica Scott
Published: 2015-05-03T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

He stood with Kearney on the dock behind his company. A formation of soldiers marched by, practicing drill and ceremony. It was an odd sight these days. They were so focused on the war that the basics like marching in formation were often abandoned and ignored.

“Nice to see you sober,” he remarked.

Kearney grinned and pulled a can of dip out of his back pocket. “Yeah, well, it’s not by choice.”

It was a long moment before Sean found the words he needed. Better to get to the heart of it than dance around the issue. He trusted Kearney. Needed to hear the truth from the man who’d pulled him back from the brink of insanity and rage. “Is there anything I should know about an escalation of force incident downrange last deployment?”

Kearney stiffened then, his expression shuttering closed. “That investigation was closed while we were still deployed.”

“What happened?”

“Smith wrote up a bullshit report. I didn’t kill those civilians. Not on purpose. They didn’t fucking stop. We told them to stop.” He met Sean’s gaze. “You know me, Sean. You know me.”

Sean swallowed hard. He thought he did. But now? Now he was starting to doubt. And he felt greasy for not trusting the man who’d kept him on the right side of heaven that awful day. Kearney was a train wreck in garrison, but downrange? He was the man you wanted on your side. “You understand I had to ask.”

Kearney shrugged. Just like that, the tension was gone and Sean was transported back to a time when he could hang out with his boys and didn’t have the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Yeah, I know. You having to be all responsible as the commander sucks. You’re no fun anymore.”

Sean grunted.

“So listen.” Kearney twisted the top of his dip can. “Haves is leaving tomorrow. The guys are all going out. I know I’m restricted to the barracks and all but I’d like to send him off with everyone else.”

Sean crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you forgetting the no-drinking order I gave you after Sunday night?”

Kearney shook his head and spit onto the pavement. “Hand to God. I won’t drink.”

Sean snorted. “I doubt that.”

“I won’t. I promise. This is Haves, man. We’ve been through a ton of shit together.”

“What if you run into LT Smith?” He was going to regret this. He just fucking knew Kearney was going to get into trouble again. But he was right. This was Haverson. And some things were worth taking a risk for.

“We won’t. It’s a barbecue out at Stillhouse Hollow.”

“What about if your wife calls?”

“She won’t. She went to her sister’s in Kentucky. I’ll behave.”

Sean frowned. “How do you know she’s gone to her sister’s in Kentucky?”

Kearney rolled his eyes. “Haverson told me he heard LT Smith talking about it. I didn’t break the no-contact order. At least not, a second time.” Kearney drew a cross over his heart. “I swear. No trouble. I’ll be here bright and smiling tomorrow.

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