Fragged: A BWWM Military Romance by Paige Notaro Read Free Book Online Page A

own.
    The only real things since I’d gotten back had happened in my time on base, training men almost a decade younger for the heat of gunfire.
    There was one other real thing that now came to mind: the feel of Rosa nestled in my arms. It had been just an hour ago, but I could just imagine the weight of her, that burning fire that seemed the source of her life.
    Instead of holding that, my hands now possessed two dull objects. In one, the packet of bullet shards. In the other, Rosa’s card.
    Lies and secrets were multiplying upon each other and I hated it. I couldn’t do anything about the bullet other than lose it.
    But the card…that I might be able to fix.
    I checked it.
    Her address was printed on the back.
    It would be right to give this back to her before it caused any small trouble. I could just slip it through her mailslot.
    My mind grew peaceful just thinking about it. Not at the thought of helping her though.
    But because it gave me one last chance to see her again.

CHAPTER FIVE
    Rosa
    I’d turned the living room into a mess. With the chandelier light so faint and far above and throw pillows lying everywhere it looked like a safe house from some zombie movie.
    “You brought it to work today,” Elsa said behind me. “I saw you clip it on.”
    “Well, it might have dropped off,” I said, shifting even more sofa cushions.
    “I saw it when you went out the door this morning.”
    “Maybe that was my library card,” I grunted at her. “Just come help me look.”
    My little sister groaned like the world was ending, but she rolled up her sleeves and started shuffling through the other sofa at back.
    She was all dressed up to head out to some church thing with my mother. Her hair hung down dark and sleek and her sandstone cheeks glowed with rouge. In her white blouse and navy skirt she looked achingly mature.
    How was a sweet, churchgoing girl in summer school? She was an angel compared to what I’d been at her age. I briefly considered telling her to spend half the effort on her classes as she did on her look. Then, I realized how old that made me sound.
    I checked under a vase on the end table, then threw my hands up. It had been a long shot, but I’d searched just about everywhere else. My bedroom was in a similar state as this one.
    “Wait,” Elsa said. “How did you get through the day if you took the wrong card to work?”
    “I don’t know, pepita. Just shut up and keep looking.”
    Of course, she was right. This was insanity. I was almost a hundred percent certain I’d used my own card to get through a door or two today. Even with my hectic patient schedule, my memory wasn’t that bad.
    I just wanted to make absolutely sure before dropping my tail feathers and admitting to security that I’d lost my card. Lilly would give me so much shit. I could only shiver thinking about the patronizing look Lem would have on.
    Oh Rosa , he’d say. You really need someone to take care of you around here .
    Like he was even half the man for the job. I still couldn’t believe the way he had grabbed me the other day. I’d always imagined him as long, high note of a man, just weak and easily broken.
    No, there was a hardness to him to - the very worst type of it. He was used to getting things his way. Was he the type to get possessive after being rejected? How far would it go if I said nothing?
    If only I had accepted Calix’s offer to keep him at bay
    I had been with strong men before. Ok, I had only been with strong men. Any of them might have done what Calix did.
    The thing that made him different was what he didn’t do. He hadn’t overdone it on Lem. He hadn’t tried to show off - if anything, he hid the move. He didn’t act like helping me meant I owed him.
    He was responsible even when he didn’t have to be. He had been respectful and kept his distance. I had to beg him for even a hug.
    And god what a hug it was. I’d never had one that felt even a fraction as safe.
    God, just the thought made me