Moments In Time: A Collection of Short Fiction by Dominic K. Alexander, Kahlen Aymes, Daryl Banner, C.C. Brown, Chelsea Camaron, Karina Halle, Lisa M. Harley, Nicole Jacquelyn, Sophie Monroe, Amber Lynn Natusch Read Free Book Online Page A

squatted next to her, holding her hand. She pulled away, staring into his eyes, full of questions and no idea where to begin.
    “Just breathe, my love,” he said with a half-cocked smile.
    There was no way Mary could breathe, but could only stare. Words failed her and she simply looked at him, horrorstricken.
    Seeing her inability to calm herself, Thomas started to talk in a low, calming tone. “Italy had developed new advanced technologies that would make their army stronger than ours. We demanded they share their technology. They of course refused, as would we if the tables were turned.”
    “What does this have to do with you being alive?” Mary shouted.
    Thomas simply held up a hand patiently. “It was determined to be in our best interest to gain the technology at any cost. Since our citizens wouldn’t support a war they deemed unjust, we sent in a team to steal Italian ships and attack our own cities. Once they did this, the Queen and the Parliament gained full support in waging war on Italy.”
    He paused and shook his head. “We never suspected they would be able to take us over.”
    “As if we want your dirty country,” a man said. Thomas simply looked up at him and he quieted.
    “My ship had intercepted an Italian transmission,” Thomas continued, “vaguely alluding to the truth of the situation, which horrified me. Since I had been in service since the beginning, I knew something didn’t seem right, and sent some of my men to discern the truth. They were able to get the true story from several drunken officials. We defected, and to cover it up, England declared us dead. I had sent someone to get you, but you were gone by the time they arrived. We even tried to send you a brain message with one of the neuralspeakinators, but the technology is too new and my connection with you only lasted a few seconds at a time. I am so very truly sorry, Mary.” His eyes were sorrowful as he looked at her.
    Tears welled up in her eyes and the weight of her burden fell away. She leaped into his arms, holding him tight, and he embraced her back.
    “I forgive any indiscretions,” he said, his jaw tight. “You thought me dead.”
    The thought of Brennan hadn’t crossed her mind until that point. She pushed back slightly, looking at him, but before she could speak, he pressed a finger to her lips.
    “Master Tinker Brennan is fine and being debriefed as we speak,” he said in an almost sad tone. “You love him, don’t you?”
    “I .  . . I . . .” Mary was taken aback by the question and unsure of the answer. “He saved my life, and dulled a pain deep inside me. For that I will forever love him, but you are my husband, and my love for him pales in comparison to my love for you. I will never give you up.”
    Thomas looked away. She could see how hard her statement struck him; he had obviously been worried about her the entire time he was away. She took his hands into hers and kissed him softly on the lips. “I love you now and will love you forever, don’t ever doubt that.”
    Mary looked to see that Brennan stood at the door, watching their embrace. His expression was hard, and she was sure he had heard every word they’d said. Her insides tightened and a tear ran down her cheek. Thomas ran a thumb over it, wiping it away.
    Brennan watched for several seconds, then his shoulders slumped slightly. He smiled at Mary, then walked away.
    That was the last time she ever saw him. She was told he joined the Italian forces and assisted in the development of new technologies for England and Italy. He held a strong place in her heart that never faded.
    Thomas was given a position in the Italian government, and helped with the reconstruction of England and all its territories. Italy had never planned to take over England, but England refused to stop the attacks. Even when it was a lost cause, they refused to surrender until the military was completely decimated. Those responsible were executed for war crimes, and the