Fragged: A BWWM Military Romance Read Online Free PDF

my own heart slow. “I’m so sorry. Cal- Mr. Black.”
    No one said anything. Mr. Rimes’ laughter rang over our silence.
    “It was violent,” I said. There had been no mistaking that look.
    “She died from violence, yes,” Calix said softly. “Violence that had nothing to do with her.”
    I looked down at the busy streets below. “Yeah, I know how that goes.”
    “Do you?” he whispered. It almost sounded like a threat.
    “I do actually. The same thing happened to my father.”
    “I see.”
    That was an odd response. No sorry, not even silence. He saw?
    Calix simply studied me with that calm face I was already so used to.
    Suddenly, I had no idea what I ever expected from him. Maybe on the surface his strength didn’t make him swagger, but there was still something dark buried deep inside. Something beyond his mother’s death.
    Maybe it was more serious than what other guys fought for, but that didn’t mean it was a thing I should be around.
    I turned to the window to hide a low sigh. He was a soldier. He was injured, but deep down he was a hard man. He would be wrong for in the same way that all the other ones were wrong.
    I was used to being disappointed. But not this early. If only we hadn’t met this way, I could have at least allowed myself to fall hard and have our fun before it all fell apart.
    “Let me get you those pills,” I said.
    “There’s no rush.”
    But there was. I needed to move to get away from my mood. I was starting to think about Dad’s death. Twelve years, and still I couldn’t even mention the incident without the pain bubbling up.
    I grabbed his little pill tray and strode out to the floor pharmacy. The steady hum of the busy floor set me at ease. I was chill by the time I got to the front of the line and told Stacy the new meds.
    “Rosa,” an annoying voice rose up from behind me. “Whose pills are you changing?”
    Lem stood over my shoulder. Great, just what I needed.
    He had on his white coat, all buttoned up, with his name tag in extra-large font. His hair looked slick. I was sure he’d wear this outfit everywhere if he could get away with it.
    “Mr. Black doesn’t want painkillers, so I’m giving him the antibiotics separately. I don’t need your signature to get rid of those.”
    “It would still be a courtesy if you could consult me about my own patient. The man suffered a gunshot. How is he supposed to cope with that?”
    I remembered his words. “By feeling it now, so that it gets better each day.”
    “Some injuries are too big for that.”
    “Perhaps.” Like the injuries that shattered your soul.
    I hadn’t faced the pain after my father’s death. I tried to be one of the gang girls at school instead, hanging out with wanna-be crooks and pretending to be hard. It took very little time for it not to be pretend anymore. Mamá had moved us out of Miami mostly to get me away from that world.
    It didn’t seem like Calix had followed his own advice when it came to his mother either.
    Lem added separate pain meds to the antibiotics. I took them all and dashed back to the room, but a steady set of footsteps trailed me.
    “What are you doing?” I looked back at Lem.
    “Visiting my patient. He is my patient.”
    “Why’d they even give him to you?” I said. “It was nothing to do with his heart.”
    Lem shrugged. “I just asked for a few additional minor cases.”
    My schedule had been up since yesterday. I was sure every one of his extra cases just happened to be on my rotation.
    “Ever heard that absence makes the heart grow fonder?” I asked.
    “I never bought it,” he said, matching my stride.
    “That’s too bad. I think it could really work here.”
    “I’ve been trying that for a year, my dear.” He stopped at the room door and winked. “Besides, I’m only here for the patient.”
    It was good that I’d sobered up on Calix. The last thing I needed was Lem seeing me doe-eyed for another man after turning him aside. He could make things