Wild Hearts (Novella) by Tina Wainscott Read Free Book Online Page B

robbing old ladies of their pensions. Look what the government did to you. You can get them back, guilt not included.”
    “What kind of life will you have now, with a questionable release from military service on your record?” Luis asked. “Especially if an employer figures out you were part of the Rogue Six?”
    Julian had to quell the Latin temper that boiled under the surface; the SEALs had hammered self-control into him. “Who, exactly, gave the order to restrain me?”
    Omar backed up toward the door. “Mama. You know how she can be when she wants something.” He shrugged. “We tried everything else.”
    “Guilt. Obligation. Threats.” They’d even used the kids, all crying—on command, beautifully, he might add—pleading with Uncle JuJu to stay. “And now you think you’re going to, what, keep me cuffed to the bed indefinitely?”
    The two were almost at the door, about to trip over the bag that was packed and ready for his departure that morning. “No. We’ve got one last resort.”
    “You do realize that I’ll have to kill you when I get out.”
    Omar’s laugh was tinged with a bit of uncertainty. “You wouldn’t kill your own family.”
    “I would have said that my own family wouldn’t restrain me, but sometimes we’re wrong, aren’t we?”
    The moment they ducked out the door, a woman entered. Susana, in tight red pants and a low-cut black shirt, her long dark hair spilling down into her cleavage. All perfectly arranged, no doubt.
    She closed the door behind her and approached the bed. “Mm, you look good there. We could have some fun.”
    “I’m too pissed to have fun.” Did his family really think he’d cave to Susana? That she would keep him here? Apparently.
    She sank to the edge of the bed beside him, the sexy smile gone. “You didn’t call me when you got back to town. A whole week and not one call or text.” She noddedtoward his bag. “And you were going to leave without seeing me. That hurts, Julian. We were each other’s first loves.”
    “And we were sixteen.” Maybe he had loved her. He could remember that rush of emotion, the passion and hormones and possessiveness. They couldn’t get enough of each other. “But we changed, grew up. You got into drugs.”
    She rubbed her nose, probably involuntarily. “A little coke, no big deal.”
    “You knew how I felt about it.”
    “I don’t know why. Your brothers and cousins were doing it. Omar and I did a line together more than once.”
    “Jeez, you think that makes it all right? I saw what drugs did to some of my family. What it did to you. Are you still using?”
    She shifted her gaze away, just for a second. “Not a lot. I’ll quit if you stay. I promise.”
    “You have to quit for yourself, not someone else. It’ll never work. Besides, I heard you were seeing Joaquin Escondido. I’m sure he keeps you supplied. Why would you come sniffing around me? I’m not giving you any of that shit.”
    Her eyes glistened with tears. “Joaquin is … well, he’s not you, baby.” She clutched at his free hand. “You never yelled at me or disrespected me.”
    “Does he hit you?” The thought of it tightened Julian’s gut.
    “Only once. I told him if he did it again, I’d call the police. You never lifted your hand, even when you were angry with me.”
    Which had been only because he’d caught her with a vial of cocaine in her purse. “Susana, you make your choices in life. You chose to do drugs, and you chose to be with Joaquin. And you can choose to leave both of them behind. But I’m not staying in this toxic environment to save you, because no one can save you but yourself.” Lord knew he’d tried. “And you can’t save yourself when you like where you are.”
    She’d been furious when he told her he was joining the Navy. She didn’t care about his need to fight for freedom or his need to escape his destiny. He had created his own destiny and, for the first time in his life, felt pride and purpose.