Soldier Mine (Sons of War #2)(60)

It’d be easy to kill him. I have the training and there are no witnesses. Knowing how he hurt Claudia and Todd, I also have every reason in the world to ensure they never, ever run across this monster ever again.

It also goes against my training and my honor as a good person. I’ve been raised in the military to use only what force is necessary, to preserve life where possible, to act out of noble reasons rather than personal ones.

I can’t … I won’t do something I might regret, like kill a man who has no chance against me. But I will ensure he doesn’t track down Claudia anymore.

I let The Monster get a couple more almost-punches in and then hit him hard with a punch to the throat and knee to the chest. While he gags and tries to breathe once more, I wrap an arm around his shoulders and slam him backwards onto my metal leg. There’s a sickening crack of his spine, and then he screams.

Dropping him, I stand over him for a moment, wanting to do more but determined to stay in control. There’s no need to tell him to stay away from my family. He’s not only headed to prison, but I doubt he’ll be able to walk again, either.

With another look around at the apartment, I leave, unable to feel one ounce of empathy for the man who hurt Claudia. Three sheriff’s deputies are barreling down the hallway towards me. I recognize all of them from school or events we’ve hosted and raise my hands instinctively.

“He’ll need an ambulance,” I say and point.

“Go downstairs, Petr. We got this,” one of them says as he moves past me.

I obey and exit into the cold night. Adrenaline keeps the wind from chilling me, and I circle the apartment building until I reach the flashing lights of police cars and an ambulance pulling into the parking lot.

“Petr!” Claudia spots me immediately and barrels towards me, face wet with tears. She throws herself into my arms. Her hands are bloodied, the sleeve of one shirt soaked and her cheek smeared with red. “Are you okay?” She flutters kisses across my cheeks, crying.

“I’m fine.” I hold her tightly and murmur into her hair, breathing in her scent. She’s shaking, and I smell blood and gasoline. Anger stirs, and I repress it with some difficulty. “He won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“Todd?” she whispers.

“Safe. With Sawyer and Baba,” I reply. I push her away to see her face. “We need to get you looked at,” I whisper.

“I’m okay,” she replies.

“Claudia, you’re not okay.” I cup her face with my hands. “I won’t leave your side, but we’re getting you checked out.” Before she can refuse again, I bend down, scoop her up and take her to the ambulance. The paramedics immediately begin tending to her, and I stand aside, watching.

She’s calming down, the collected, cool woman I know her to be remerging. She looks at me a few times, and I smile each time in encouragement. My hands clench and release from their positions in my pockets. The urge to pull her into my arms and run away with her home is intense.

They roll The Monster out shortly after. She stands automatically and twists her back to him, reaching out for me with her bandaged hands.

I hug her, relieved to have her in my arms again. “Is she cleared to go?” I ask the paramedics hanging back.

“She’ll need to see a doctor in the next day or so,” comes the response.

“Petr, we’ll need statements,” calls one of the deputy’s escorting The Monster.

“Come on by whenever you want,” I return with a quick smile. “We’ll be at my dad’s.”

He waves. The police know my family as well as anyone else in town.

“Come on, Claudia. Let’s go home,” I whisper to the shell-shocked woman in my arms.

She nods.

We get into my truck and leave the apartment building. Her cheek, hands and forearm are bandaged, and bruising is starting to form across her face from where he hit her.

I’m starting to think I let The Monster off too easily. “You okay?”





Chapter Twenty two: Claudia


Alone in the car, the dangerous, hard edge vanishes from Petr. He’s unhurt, and his eyes are warm once more. His hand rests on my thigh, and he smiles, sensing I’m looking at him even though his eyes are on the road.

“Yeah,” I manage. “You came.”

“Of course I did.”

The tears I blink away stem from neither pain nor fear this time. Relief, perhaps, or gratitude and happiness. “Is it over?” I can’t process my night or emotions. I saw them bring out The Monster on a stretcher. I don’t know what Petr did to him, but Jake was unconscious and strapped to a board.

“It’s over.” Petr squeezes my hand. “I promise. For good. He will never bother you again.”

I wipe my face and wince. It’s sore everywhere. My hands burn with warm pain. I’m going to be swollen and bruised tomorrow morning. I have the urge to curl up in the safety and strength of his arms and sob myself to sleep. Taking his hands, I kiss it and nuzzle it against my good cheek.

“Thank you,” I whisper and swallow hard. “Thank you.” My voice cracks, and I squeeze his hand harder.

Petr pulls the truck over. He takes me in his arms the best he can in the vehicle. I cling to him. His scent and warmth ground me and replace the terror of my night.