Austin by Stone Piper

Author:Stone, Piper
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
Published: 2021-04-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Francesca

Murderer.

I could tell by Vader’s eyes that he believed what he’d told me, the guilt he’d suffered dragging him to the very pits of hell and beyond. If there was a witch hunt going on, which is what I suspected, his confession would be accepted, any chance at a future ending. I damn well wasn’t going to allow that to happen. I also suspected a cover-up since no orders had been given to rescue the captive soldiers. While there was no way to be certain given the secretive nature of the mission, the thought still infuriated me.

“It’s not your fault,” I insisted.

“And you weren’t there,” he countered.

“No, I wasn’t, but I do understand at least a little of what you and your team went through. My brother was a Marine through and through. He loved every aspect as well as fighting for his country. Of course, he never provided details of the missions he was required to go on. Even after he was killed, our family was told very little. He was awarded the Medal of Honor after his death. While I’ll never forget that day my mother was handed the award by the president, it didn’t take away the fact my brother was gone. I questioned what happened, refusing to believe the mission he was on needed to happen, but after some time, I realized that my brother would have done anything to fight for his country. That’s what I suspect happened to Snake. There was nothing you could have done to prevent him from continuing the mission he’d been given.”

“Which makes me a coward.”

I gripped his arm. “No. You forget that against all odds, you and your friends, your team went back to save him. All of you are men of honor. You must remember that, Vader. That’s what Snake would say to you right now if he could.”

He hung his head, taking several deep breaths before squeezing my hand. “He already has.”

“Then try and remember that what you and the men of your unit did was truly heroic, no matter what kind of crap is tossed in your direction.”

“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re one hell of a woman?”

“You know what? Only you.”

Vader took several sips of his beer. While I doubted that he was at peace, at least the rage that had hung around him in an intense aura was quieted for the time being. My words weren’t going to change anything, but maybe they gave him some comfort that I believed what he and his friends had done was necessary.

“What the hell did your ex-husband do to you?”

The question was one I knew I couldn’t avoid, even though I had no desire to get into the wretched details. “Let’s just say he wasn’t Prince Charming after all.”

“Men who hurt women need to be castrated.”

I almost laughed, but I knew he was serious. “He’s not worth it, Vader. I’m done with men like him.”

Another quiet thirty seconds settled in.

“You know there’s a chance that someone is going to figure out that you were at the motel that night.

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