The Embattled Road (Lost and Found Series) Read Online Free PDF

recovery.
    But he knew guns like nobody’s business.
    The thought of never seeing his friend again sent a chill through him. At least here, Palmer could bitch at the two of them. It was a relationship, whether he wanted to admit it or not. So many Marines had not been able to integrate back into civilian life. And the suicide rate was even higher for wounded service-men. John Palmer so fit the profile.
    “We need to make sure we stay in touch,” he told them.
    Snorting, Palmer shook his head. “Yeah, okay.”
    “I’m serious. We’re Marines, we stick together.”
    “I’ll move on and somebody else will take my place. It’s how it works here. You’ll forget about me by lunchtime the day after I’m gone.”
    Chad shook his head at the man’s stubbornness. “No, I won’t. You’re a brother. I won’t forget that. Just like I won’t forget any of the other men I served with.”
    Palmer stared at him hard for a couple of seconds, then turned to look out over the parking lot without saying anything. If Chad didn’t know any better, he’d think the Gunny had just gotten a little emotional. He glanced at Duncan, who gave the tiniest shake of his head.
    It was hard to convince somebody who had never been cared about that you actually cared.
     

Chapter Three
     
    John refused to acknowledge the pain that rolled through him from Chad’s words. Didn’t it figure? He’d looked for acceptance all his life. The Corps gave him that for a while, and, sadly, being in the hospital even more so. He’d served with these men on the front lines, and even though it was an adopted brotherhood, it was more than he’d ever had before.
    He felt pretty salty right now though. He’d served his country faithfully, through all conditions and three deployments, and they were turning him out like a relative who had stayed too long.
    Panic made his heart race and his hand slipped to his hip automatically, looking for iron confidence. But it wasn’t there. Hadn’t been there for almost half a year now.
    Hell, maybe it is time to move on.
    There wasn’t a lot of stuff at Lejeune. Which was good because he had no idea how he was going to get it anywhere. He’d say goodbye to some people and reminisce a bit, then be gone. If those meetings were anything like the few he’d had here in the hospital, they would be quick and final. The able-bodied grunts didn’t like to see the wounded because it reminded them of their own mortality. Any one of them could step on a landmine or drive over an IED.
    He looked at the watch on his wrist. Twelfth of the month. Three more days and he’d be out of here.
    In a way he was relieved to be moving on, before he became any more attached than he already was. Chad talked a good game, but he’d forget him eventually too. The kid had family that appreciated his service and were already making plans to welcome him home, with a parade and everything. The Lowell family had made a concerted effort to always have somebody at the hospital every week. In spite of the trek from Texas, his parents came out every month like clockwork. They’d have a heck of a surprise when they came out this month. Their boy would have his leg back.
    Genuinely, he was glad for Chad, but he couldn’t help but be envious at his recovery. The damage from the Humvee panel landing on his own back in the IED explosion was permanent, and no hoping in the world was going to change that. Yes, there were drugs and trials they could try, he was told, but there was no guarantee. Yes, every once in a while his leg twitched. Oorah.
    His dick remained a useless lump. It pissed like it was supposed to now and that was it. No arousal even when he tried to imagine fucking a woman. Or, God, getting a blow job. He’d deliberately tried to get hard several times with no result. He wouldn’t be trying again.
    All his life, he’d prided himself on being a good lover. It was a great cosmic joke that the thing he would miss most would be denied