Semper Mine (Sons of War #1)(6)

I close the door to the truck, calm as ever before a mission, and circle the vehicle.

She stops, glaring up at me, hands on hips again. “My brother is not going with you.”

“You’ve got a choice, ma’am,” I tell her. “You’re welcome to accompany us in silence, or you can walk to the retreat.”

“He’s not well enough to leave!”

“That’s not up for debate.”

“But Petr –”

“Not. Up. For. Debate,” I repeat more slowly.

Her eyes narrow. “I know he didn’t invite you to the retreat.” She’s referring to the reason I’m in town. After Mikael’s death, her family opened up a foundation in his name to help underprivileged children of military families where a parent had been lost. The first annual camp for the kids is kicking off this evening.

“As a matter of fact, he did,” I reply. “I’m the keynote speaker giving the initial address and sticking around for the week to help out as a camp counselor.”

Her fiery look goes to her brother.

“So, ride with us quietly or walk. Your call.” I’m using my calmest command voice, the one I’ve used to defuse situations between friendlies and restless allies.

“I’m not riding with you.”

Normally, I wouldn’t care how she got there. But I’ve got a competitive streak, one she managed to poke awake in the hospital. Our disagreement has elevated to a matter of principal, and I’m going to win this round.

“It’s twenty four clicks from here. You aren’t walking.” Jesus. How did they grow up with her and stay sane? “I’m going to count to five. Have your ass in the truck by the time I’m done, or I’ll put you there.”

She rolls her eyes. “You got any other tactics except for resorting to violence, hero?”

I don’t take her barb this time. Instead, I take off my cap and set it on the hood of the truck.

“One.” It’s followed by my dress jacket, which I fold neatly and place beside it. “Two.” I’ve got her attention now. She’s eyeing my biceps, which I will freely admit are huge, thanks in part to training I did with her brothers. I taught them to swim like a SEAL, and they helped me bulk up. “Three.”

“Petr said you jarheads are crazy.” She’s watching me as if trying to figure out how serious I am.

I suspect no one in her family has ever told her no or failed to give in when she yelled. But I’m not like anyone else she’s met before, and she’s about to learn that.

“Four.” Off go the shoes.

Katya moves slowly towards the truck, muttering something I’m pretty sure I don’t want to hear. She opens the door to the back, gets in and slams it.

I’d like to think she’s got the sense to know when she’s outmatched, but I think she’s more interested in making sure I don’t kill her brother between here and the retreat.

Damn civilians. I take my time to replace my clothing and rein in my temper before getting in the truck.

It’s quiet in the cab. I’m not sure why I’m so surprised.

Petr looks at me like I’m crazy but doesn’t speak, as if afraid to provoke the can of worms seated unhappily in the back seat.

“One big happy family,” I mutter and pull out of the parking lot.

It’s days like these where I’m almost glad I’m an orphan.





Chapter Four: Katya


Captain Mathis is an * with awesome biceps. I’m normally a thigh girl, but I have to admit – I could be swayed, if he wasn’t such a dick.

I want to think I’m old enough not to mope, but well, I’m pissed. This is my world, my brother, my retreat! When he’s involved, members of my family die. It’s taken every minute of every day to help get Petr healthy again, and I’m still scared that something might go wrong, that he, too, might be taken from me.

“Seatbelt,” Captain Mathis directs.

I pull it on.

Damn Marine. Not satisfied with killing people. He’s gotta kill the environment, too. I’m reduced to being a silent prisoner in the back of one of the eco-unfriendliest vehicles on the road.

No one speaks for a few minutes. It’s tense again, the way it was when I confronted him in Petr’s room.

My brother clears his throat. “It’s a beautiful day,” Petr says. “Will be fun getting back into the forest. Always loved it there.” By the smile on his face, I know he’s thinking about how he and Mikael built an insane obstacle course in the forest and would race each other through it every time they were home. “I’m definitely testing out the new leg this week,” he adds.

I open my mouth to protest, knowing the brutal, three-mile course is the last thing he should do before his final tests next week.

Captain Mathis gives me a warning look in the rearview mirror. “Fifteen clicks.”

I don’t exactly know what a click is, but I’m assuming it’s some military way of measuring distance. I do know that the * driving us would dump me on the side of the road in a heartbeat. If there’s one thing I sense about him, it’s that he doesn’t give idle threats.

I stare out the window, clamping my mouth closed.

Petr twists to glance at me. “First time for everything,” he says, impressed.