Page 79 of Her Faithful Protector

“Ava!” he exclaims.

“It’s okay if you do,” I deadpan. “I just need to warn you that Quinton might think it’s mealtime all the time.”

“Ava!” Jack exclaims even louder, trying to stifle his laughter. “I do not have posters of naked women. It’s just that the space is small and the ventilation isn’t great. That’s all.”

“I’m just teasing,” I say as I scrub away a stubborn dried oatmeal stain on the stone bench. “So, we’ll have accommodation outside the base?”

“Yes. It’s only twenty minutes away.”

Becoming a military partner never entered my mind. But this unexpected turn is nothing less than a blessing and a miracle—even though I only know a little about the USMC lifestyle and island living.

I approach Jack, who is making engine sounds while he feeds Quinton a spoonful. I ask, “Is there a group or something where I can meet others?”

Jack wipes a bit of food from Quinton’s mouth. “I’ll introduceyou to my friends. They all have partners or families, so you won’t be alone there. Just so you know, being a single man, I’m bucking the trend in our community. When I left, that is.” He smiles.

I return his smile, feeling reassured. With Jack by my side, I’m open to anything—learning, adapting, pivoting. “So, you’ll be with us in that off-base accommodation, right? Not in your bachelor pad?”

Jack puts the oatmeal bowl down and hooks his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “Ava, we’re family. I’ll take care of you and Quinton, and we’ll always be together, no matter where we are. I promise.”

I chuckle and reply, “Well, I do have a long shopping list for when we arrive.”

Jack raises an eyebrow and teases, “Oh, really? Like what?”

I lean into him as he presses against me, feeling his warmth. “Well, for starters, I need a bikini. And maybe some lingerie.”

He smirks and playfully rubs against me. “Damn… of course, you can shop to your heart’s content. Just promise me you’ll let me help choose the important items.”

While I’m busy packing the large bag of trash, Jack takes the time to refill Quinton’s mug with drinking water. When he returns, we discover that the bowl has toppled over, leaving Quinton covered in oatmeal.

“Oh, Quinton!” Jack exclaims in dismay.

“Oh dear,” I sigh, regretting my choice of using fruit that stains easily in the meal.

My hands are full of trash, so Jack offers to help. He picks up Quinton from his highchair. Carrying the baby as if he were flying, he mimics the actions of a captain. “To the changing station!”

I chuckle as I drag the trash bag out. As I pass the frontdoor, I notice that Elmo has peed in the corner of the living room. “Oh, Elmo!” I sigh, but the mischievous mutt is nowhere to be found.

“Elmo! Come here, boy,” I call out, but there’s no response.

I check outside to see if he is trying to chase those neighborhood skunks. With no sign of him at the front and on the street, I circle around the rear of the house, tracing the path of dog tracks that lead me to some damaged shrubs.

“Elm, come on, come to me.”

As I scurry, it’s as if the bush has sprung to life, with two arms emerging from it to grab my neck and silence my cry for help. The man is soldier-like, wearing a ski mask. I desperately want to call Jack, but all I can do is watch helplessly as I’m pulled behind the bushes and out of the backyard. The lack of any visible getaway vehicle only adds to my confusion. How did this captor manage to ambush me so effectively?

Finally, I spot Elmo in the distance. With menace, he sprints toward us, his short legs moving surprisingly fast. I’ve never seen my dog like this before. He fearlessly tries to defend me, his loyal nature shining through as he sinks his teeth into the man’s foot. But his brave efforts are quickly thwarted as the man heartlessly kicks him away.

No…

Elmo’s body sprawls across the ground. My cheeks are drenched with tears, yet a suffocating grip clamps my mouth shut, stifling any cries. The pain of losing my loyal companion shatters my heart. I didn’t even have a chance to say ‘good dog’ or even call his name. Meanwhile, the man mercilessly drags me farther away from the house.

I gyrate, desperately trying to break free from my captor’s grip. But my attempts are futile. In a desperate act of self-defense, I start hitting his neck with all the strength I can muster, hoping to weaken his hold on me. Just as I feel aglimmer of hope, another man appears out of nowhere. He moves swiftly, overpowering me and pinning me down.

“Where the fuck have you been!” the first man complains in a voice I don’t recognize.

“Chill out!” the other man replies, his voice calm and collected. He shouldn’t have bothered wearing a mask. I know he’s the bearded man.

Before I can even process my next move, a sudden, sharp prick pierces my arm. In a matter of moments, everything around me turns blindingly white. The world becomes a void, a blank canvas, as if all the colors have been erased.

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