Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Redemption for Misty (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Pierce Securities Book 5) Read Online Free PDF

done.
    “Dude. You can go and let me take care of my girl here.” Without another word, Ghost nodded and disappeared into the main part of the shop, leaving them alone in the kitchen.
    Chris got back to work smoothing salve over Misty’s flat belly. Her creamy olive skin was dark red where the coffee had burned it, and Chris worried it would scar. He tried to be gentle, ghosting his hands over her skin, but she hissed anyway at the contact. He tried to pretend they were doing something else, but the ugly red welts growing on her skin made that difficult. So he distracted himself with looking at the enormous butterfly marking her belly, going around her side. The ribs must have been painful. He’d heard that was a bad place to get tattoos.
    “This is beautiful,” he said to break what was quickly becoming an awkward silence.
    “Thanks. I got it after high school… to remind me to spread my wings.” Her words were hisses, reminding him yet again he was an asshole for burning her. “They’re addictive, though. I’ve got another one on my back, one around my bicep, and I have plans for more.” She smiled wryly at him. “Do you have any?”
    “No. My parents wouldn’t allow it, then the Army was real picky. I want one, though.” He wasn’t going to tell her what he wanted. She’d think he was a creep, so he bit his tongue and stayed silent, hoping she wouldn’t ask. He wanted an eagle across his chest, and could probably play it off with the patriotism thing and being in the Army and stuff. But the truth was, the symbol of power reminded him of the woman who had all the power for him. Such a fucking sap.
    The silence grew thick between them; the only sounds were Misty’s grunts of pain and Chris’s tender blowing on the heated burns. Finally, she drew in a deep breath.
    “I wasn’t raped. I can’t believe Drew told you all that.” Her voice was soft and cradled itself in Chris’s brain like a baby bunny seeking shelter from a storm. Something inside him unfurled at the words.
    “He was upset. He needed to talk it out. I was there for him.” Upset was putting it mildly. His buddy had been in tears after finishing off his bottle of Mezcal. He’d lost all inhibitions, and instead of sticking to his macho façade, he and Chris had gone outside, where Crash unloaded all of the what-ifs and worries on him. He was so glad Misty was okay but still dying inside that he hadn’t been there to protect his little sister.
    “Thank you for being there. That couldn’t have been easy for him to go through so far away from home.”
    Chris huffed, his movements stilling. “You’re the survivor here, Misty. We rooted for you, cheered for you, and idolized you.” We loved you. He was glad she hadn’t been raped and wondered if her brother knew, or if it was something they didn’t talk about after she was safe.
    Misty faced him and put her hands on his face, freezing his thoughts. With her cool skin touching his, all thoughts of her brother fled his mind. All he noticed were her chilly palms on his cheeks. Turning his face to hers, Misty looked deep into his eyes, her chicory-colored eyes penetrating him.
    “It’s okay, Chris. All that is in my past. I won’t say I’m over it because I still have my moments…” She took a deep breath and expelled it, wafting a sugary breath across his face. “But I want to live my life without thinking about that time. Thank you so much for helping Andrew get through being away for that horrific experience. And thank you for being here now, with me.” It was on the tip of his tongue to say there was no place else he’d rather be, but she kept talking. “Now, keep smearing that cream on me. This hurts like a bitch.” She released him from the spell he was under.
    With that reminder, the guilt flowed through him again, ending up in a pool in his gut. He hated himself.
    Misty saw, and her eyes filled with concern. “Stop it. I reacted, you reacted. It could have been