What Could Have Page 2

  At this, Lucas clenched his hands at his sides. “Do it and I’ll fucking kill you.”

  Tony laughed and turned his dancing eyes back to Lucas. “My point proven, bro.”

  Two

  “Thank fuck that’s over.” Annabelle grinned at Lucas and glanced over her shoulder to watch as the dorm they had been in faded until it was nothing more than a memory of the past few weeks. Despite being one of the busiest training bases for the United States Air Force, not too many individuals walked around, the roads were devoid of cars, and instead, birds chirped from the sparse trees nearby, adding their song to this monotonous of a day. Basic training was officially over, and excitement still hung in the air from the graduation ceremony. They had three hours to get themselves over to the next portion of their military schooling.

  Lucky for them—or unlucky, depending on how you looked at it—their school was on the same base, just a few miles over.

  Technical school would prove to be twelve weeks with a bunch of additional information tossed their way. Not only would they learn from the books, but the physical readiness of their bodies would increase and the drill instructors would be no less harsh than in basic. Their field was known as having the real basic training, in case you missed the first portion. It was going to be just greeeeat.

  Annabelle’s shoulders were sore as hell from yesterday’s grueling session of physical training. The instructors had thought themselves to be in a fun mood and wanted to push them harder than they had for the entire course. Her duffle sack dug into her tired muscles. She grimaced and shifted the bag. The walk to tech school was two miles away, but when your entire body screamed in pain, it seemed like ten.

  Of course Lucas noticed, his damning way of seeing right through her. “You want me to take that?” he asked and motioned to her back.

  She rolled her eyes, tossed him a look that said she thought his question was full of bullshit, and communicated a four-letter word accompanied by a three-letter word that started and ended with the letter F.

  He chuckled. “You know you don’t have to be so damn hard all the time, Anna. It’s okay to ask for help.”

  She shifted the bag again as they rounded the corner on the last stretch of the walk, their soft breaths a solo sound between them, the steady clomp of their boots hitting the sidewalk. His words struck something in her. She wanted to be able to just give in, let him take over, and let him be her comforter. But she couldn’t.

  “You’re right, I don’t. But here, I do. It’s hard enough being a female in a training class that holds a male to female ratio of fifteen to one.”

  He snorted softly. “No one pays attention to that.”

  She snorted back. “Yeah right. You’re dreaming. Everyone pays attention to it. People can say what they want about men and women having equal rights and being the same, but we both know that in this world, the real world, it’s all just talk. I have to work harder and be better than the man next to me, otherwise I stand out. And that’s not good.”

  Her sack suddenly lost about ten pounds from her shoulders. She glanced sharply behind her and was brought up short.

  Lucas bunched the material at the top of her sack in his hand and lifted it. She sighed and shot him a look that should have had him releasing her bag and possibly making his balls shrivel, but instead he smirked and then smoothed his face into an innocent mask.

  He hit her with the full force of his intense gaze and she bit in another sigh. Prickles of awareness dusted along her skin and deep in her stomach, she melted. Could he be any more perfect?

  “Stop pretending with me, Anna. You and I both know better.”

  She turned her attention back around and started walking again. “Lucas…”

  “Anna,” he matched her pleading tone, and she chuckled. He gave a quick tug on her bag, halting her steps again. She turned in question. His gaze bore into hers, his eyes softening as he reached up to trail his knuckles along her cheek. Out of her control, her eyes closed in sheer bliss. His hands were so warm, so rough against her skin. A welcomed touch she’d dreamt about for weeks.

  She fought a shiver and lost. The Texas heat had nothing on what he did to her body.

  “You don’t need to pretend with me,” he said. “We’ve been through too much together.”

  Well, yeah, they had. For a moment she got lost in his touch. She didn’t care that they only knew each other for eight weeks. And that even then their time together had been limited. No, she and Lucas had forged a bond she considered unbreakable. It was a friendship she thought could withstand anything. A connection to a man that went above all others, even though she wanted so much more.

  A car honked down the street, snapping her back to attention. She swallowed hard and took a step back, her eyes darting around, looking for instructors or other guys from their class. God, she almost forgot herself again, and all it took, all she needed, was one simple touch from him. As a female, she needed to keep her weight more than anyone else did. She had to prove she belonged here, not that the military needed her.

  “Lucas,” she said and struggled for words. He removed his hand and dropped it down to his side. “I can’t afford to be anyone else here. I have to be this person, I have to prove I belong here. You think I had it tough in basic training?” She laughed, and the sound wasn’t funny. “God, we’re going to be military cops, that’s one of the toughest fields, especially for a woman. I just…I can’t.”

  She turned and walked quicker, needing to get away before she made an absolute fool out of herself. The more she tried to be someone else, this strong woman the instructors would leave alone, the more Lucas seemed to call her bluff.

  A few steps away and once again, her sack lifted from her back. She ducked her head and smiled, hoping like hell they’d get through the next twelve weeks with their friendship intact.

  “You’re welcome, Anna,” soft words whispered next to her ear. His body brushed along the side of hers and she closed her eyes from the one small blissful contact.

  A thrill went down her spine. Just the air from his mouth gave her shivers. “Yeah, yeah. Thank you, Lucas.”

  * * * * *

  Lucas stepped inside his assigned dorm room and dropped his bag. Tony shoved in behind him with a grunt and tossed his duffle on the nearest bed. The air stank of sweat and dirt, the room closed off for far too long.

  It was a basic set up, two twin size mattresses, two brown wardrobes with locks and keys hanging from a clasp, a mini fridge in the back, one sink at a back wall sitting in front of a mirror. And a door which had to lead to the shared bathroom with their mates next door.

  That was it.

  He eyed the bed. “Shit, there’s no doubt my feet are going to hang off the end of that.”

  “That’s what you get for being a sasquatch, my man,” Tony quipped.

  Lucas flipped him a one-finger salute and kicked his back beneath the bed Tony hadn’t taken. He turned and took in the bare, white walls and shook his head, then spun around and walked outside.

  Technical school had to be set up in a simple way. Four dormitories sat on the campus of military police academy training. Two in the north and two in the south. Between those sides were the training offices and an assembly room. A courtyard of grass and sand sat between the dorms on each side, an area where everyone could safely congregate.

  Yes, because even here, the training staff didn’t take any chances—not that he could blame them—and they separated the women from the men in separate dorms.

  His room on the second floor of a three-story building gave him a great overview of everything going on. He looked out across the yard and narrowed his eyes, scanning, searching for…

  Ah. There she was. Leaning on the iron railing directly across from him, her arms wrapped around her chest. She seemed to be rubbing at one shoulder while staring at him. He frowned, wondering if she was in pain, if maybe she had injured herself. Opening his mouth to ask, a voice suddenly chirped up behind him.


  “Trainee Angotta?”

  He pivoted toward the newcomer and raised his brows, then immediately snapped to attention at the sign of an academy instructor. “Sir!”

  “At ease, troop.”

  Lucas relaxed and moved one foot to stand shoulder length apart. He didn’t get comfortable, though. That was not what At Ease was about. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tony hover behind the frame of the door.

  Leaving him hanging.

  Yeah, thanks, asshole.

  “You Lucas Angotta?”

  He nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

  “All right, I need you to come with me. Go ahead and grab your bag, too.”

  He frowned from the unusual request, but figured they had to be moving him to another room, that was all. Not arguing, he did as requested and followed the instructor down the hall and on into the main training office.

  “Drop your bag in a chair,” the instructor said, gesturing toward a row of green chairs by the front door.

  Disturbed by the sequence of events, Lucas did as requested and turned back toward the instructor. The guy motioned with a hand to follow and led him into a dark office filled with lush, leather furniture, a big oak desk, and awards on the walls.

  Before he had a chance to take anything else in, the instructor stepped out of the room and shut the door with a finale click. Lucas spun around until his gaze landed on another individual in the room. This guy had dark brown hair, a bit of gray at the temples, and wore dress blues, a nice pair of wings signaling his rank as a full-bird Colonel, and a badge.

  The training commander.

  He snapped to attention again and felt off about the position, especially being in civilian clothing. “Sir!”

  “At ease, son. Go ahead and take a seat. I don’t think you’re going to like this news.”

  Lucas frowned, an expression about to set on his face permanently. He rounded a huge chair and sat…at attention.

  “Yeah, that’s right, this is your first day. Just out of basic, right?”

  Lucas nodded. “Yes, Sir.” He was starting to sound like a parrot.

  “All right, all right. We’re still in training mode around here, but you can go ahead and relax a bit. I have some news from home, and I need to get a decision from you pretty quickly.”

  From home?

  His back snapped straight, this time not from the position of attention, but more from having his attention. “Sir? Home?”

  The Colonel nodded and a line of discomfort settled between his brows. “Yes, I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, Lucas, but your grandfather passed away last night.”

  It took a few moments to hit him and he just stared at the man, blinking his eyes to cover the sting. It couldn’t be. He’d just…

  “Sir?”

  “I’m sorry. This has happened in the past, it’s rare, but we have procedures in place for this. I know you’re due to stay here for another few weeks before going back home, but you have the option—one I highly recommend you take—to go home to be with your family for the services. It’s always nice to be able to say goodbye.”

  The steel that had held his spine snapped and he sat back with a huff. He saw his grandfather in great health just before leaving for basic. How this happened was a physical blow to his chest.

  He rubbed at the phantom feeling and fought through the haze of shock. “Of course.”

  “Are you going to be able to get a ticket home? The military will operate on that under normal circumstances. Emergency leave, your pay. We’ll help you get everything sorted though.”

  Lucas nodded. “Yeah, no problem. I can cover it. Um, how soon can I go?”

  “Your orders should be signed by sixteen hundred hours. You have a few hours to set up flight arrangements, and work with Sergeant Smith out front to get accommodations to the airport. I expect you back, ready to start with the next class in seven days, Angotta.”

  That got his attention. “Next class, Sir?”

  The Colonel nodded again and stepped up to a window that overlooked the courtyard. “Yes, training has to go on. The class graduating basic next week will be the one you’ll start with. They’ll be another three that will have to stay behind a week as well, as this class is overstocked.”

  “Oh.”

  “Lucas.”

  He glanced up and met blue eyes the color of a summer storm. “Yes, Sir?”

  “Go get things in order, get home, say goodbye, and get back here. I’m sure it hasn’t hit yet, but when it does, you’re going to need your family. If you run into any problems, give us a call.”

  Hearing the dismissal, Lucas stood, snapped a salute, and left the office.

  Out in the main waiting area, he glanced around, feeling lost. The guy he assumed was Sergeant Smith stood behind a desk across the room, talking on the phone. He lifted a hand, motioning for Lucas to give him a moment.

  Lucas turned toward the glass doors leading outside and his breath caught at the sight of Annabelle standing on the other side, leaning against the girl’s dormitory brick wall, watching him. She smiled and waved a hand.

  Something in his chest eased a fraction, all with that one small look.

  Figuring he was waiting, but really, wanting to feel that ease of tightness dissipate even more, he crossed the room and stepped outside. She met him halfway.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  He gave a short bark of laughter that was anything but humorous. She read him so well. “God, that you can just look at me and know.”

  She frowned.

  “No,” he started, needing to reassure her. “It’s not bad. I’m just saying, we barely know each other, and yet you already know me so well.”

  “Oh.” She smiled, slow and sweet as can be.

  Damn. She is so friggen appealing.

  “I’m going home for a week,” he said. “My grandfather passed away last night.” He scrubbed a hand down his face and let out a heavy breath. There was so much to do, but he couldn’t find the strength to leave her just yet.

  “Oh, Luc…” She stepped toward him, and he opened his arms to accept her comfort. The world fell away as she fit her body to him. She was curvy where he was hard. It was their first embrace and he didn’t want to let her go.

  He tightened his grip and she wrapped her arms around the back of his neck.

  “I’m so sorry, Luc.” Usually those words were said out of courtesy, but with her, he just felt her comfort all the way down to his sole.

  “Thanks,” he answered gruffly.

  Someone behind him cleared his throat and they both jumped back and out of each other’s arms. Sergeant Smith stood in the door looking at them both, a stern expression on his face.

  “Ready when you are, Angotta. Do me a favor and remember PDA rules, okay?”

  Lucas bobbed his head and glanced over at Annabelle in time to see her cheeks tinge pink.

  Damn that was sweet.

  “Hey, Anna, I won’t be starting training with you all tomorrow.”

  Her brows drew down. “You won’t? Oh…you’re going home.”

  It wasn’t a question, but he nodded anyhow.

  “Yeah, so I’ll be starting next week. I wanted to tell you that getting to know you has been great. Once I get back, let’s try to meet up for dinner or something. I’m sure we can connect at chow.” Damn, fate was a fickly SOB. He wished they’d met under different circumstances, wished his grandfather hadn’t passed, just wished…

  She sighed and glanced over his shoulder at Sergeant Smith, then back to meet his eyes. “I’d like that. Safe travels, Lucas.”

  He gave her a sad smile and wished he could pull her into his arms again. “Thank you, Annabelle.”

  Three

  Three weeks in to technical school and her training class took place out in the forest, in only-God-knew-where-they-were part of Texas. The closest town or sign of civilization was well over ten miles away. The distance had to be that far, because when you used explosive devices
, machine guns, and simulated war zones, the local population tended to frown on being close to any of that.

  Not Annabelle, though. No, ground base training was fun.

  Not!

  She sat in a foxhole with her capped-off M-16 rifle, her face covered in ‘paint,’ waiting to see who would try to pierce her defenses in the dark of the night.

  Why did they call it a foxhole?

  It was big enough to hold two bodies and didn’t look like anything a fox would build. She rubbed the bridge of her nose, immediately regretting it when her hands slipped over her skin. The black and green camouflage paint plastered across her face itched like hell. Her nose wrinkled as she fought an urge to scratch at it again.

  It wasn’t just her face that prickled, no, her mind had been messing with her. Too little food, hardly any light, and even less sleep, the possibilities of what else was inside the foxhole flew through her head. She couldn’t keep thinking about it. If she did, she was likely to give her position away.

  Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. Screw that. Scorpions, ants, and centipedes, get me the hell outta here!

  It was a simulated war zone. They—the squadron of trainees—dug their own holes and were ordered to guard their territories. Set up with Ready Made Meals and water, they were told to get through the night without being “killed.” The instructors were the bad guys waiting for the trainees to mess up.

  Annabelle glanced over at Lucas and grinned. He stared out at the dark area surrounding them, his attention riveted. Every few seconds he’d duck his head behind night vision goggles in an attempt to see the enemy. His helmet sat low on his head and his shoulders were hunched to keep cover in the deep hole.

  Unsurprisingly, when they’d been asked to pair up, Lucas and her had turned to one another, ready to begin a night of war games. It wasn’t such a hardship, either. He had her beat when it came to digging the hole, his physical build a huge help to get the task done. And they had to go deep in order to fit his six-foot-two build fully inside.