Page 70 of Keeping London (Flawed Heart)

I’m twenty-six, as of yesterday, and I will never want another woman in my life. Oddly, I’m completely okay with that.

Pounding sounds on my door.

“Berk! We’re out!”

I’ve just finished putting on the last of my gear, so I grab my gun and open the flimsy door of my room.

“Ready,” I greet Cooper as I exit.

It’s three in the morning. The sun won’t rise for another three and a half hours.

I jump up into the armored Humvee with the rest of the guys. We’re heading out for a mission in Sarowbi, which is about an hour away, just east of Kabul. We received intel late yesterday that an Al-Qaeda general, who is responsible for killing at least twenty Marines in the past several months, has a safe house there. Chances are, he’s long gone by now, and this is going to strictly be a reconnaissance mission where we’ll collect any intel we can from anyone willing to talk about the general’s current location. However, we’re getting there early, before the sun rises, to either capture the general or to startle some local Afghans with a scary wake-up call.

As far as missions go, this one has uneventful written all over it. The intel we received was too scattered and random. It leads me to believe it’s either old or incorrect information. More than likely, today’s going to be a glorified field trip to Sarowbi, which is a pretty boring little village.

“Dude, birthday Skype sex?” Cooper whispers next to me so that only I can hear over the rumble of the truck’s engine.

“What is your obsession with that?” I look to him, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

The deep timbre of his laughter resonates through the back of the vehicle. “Dude, you know I only keep asking because it makes you all uncomfortable and shit. It’s hilarious.”

“Hilarious,” I deadpan with a roll of my eyes. “If you want to know that bad, it was fucking awesome. The best Skype sex I’ve had since I’ve been here. Happy?”

“Nice! Some kick-ass birthday virtual sex. London’s a keeper.” He nods his head in approval.

“She is,” I agree.

“Did you get a chance to Skype with Maggie yesterday?”

Maggie works all sorts of odd shifts at the hospital. I’ve long stopped trying to keep up with her schedule. It’s easier just to ask Cooper.

“I did. She was off last night.”

“Sweet. How is she?”

“Great. Do you remember that broad Patricia?” Cooper asks.

“Um…” I run the name over in my head, trying to recall who she is.

“You know, that tall, busty brunette friend Maggie had in college. Remember she always used to call you Loh-Key?”

Realization dawns. “Ugh, I hated her.”

“I know, right? Well, she contacted Maggie out of the blue yesterday. Apparently, she had heard from someone that we were getting married and was pissed that she hadn’t been asked to be a bridesmaid. She hasn’t spoken to Maggie in probably two years. Even when they were friends, she was such a bitch to Maggie. Honestly, Maggie wasn’t planning on inviting her ass, let alone asking her to be a bridesmaid. Isn’t it weird how delusional some people are?”

“She was always so stuck on herself. God, I hated that bitch.” I shake my head, trying to rid my mind of the memories of Patricia.

“She was. Well, you know how Maggie is with confrontation. She basically tried to explain to Patricia that she wasn’t invited to the wedding in a way that wouldn’t hurt her feelings.”

“How’d that go?” I smile, thinking of sweet Maggie and her inability to be mean to anyone, even those who deserve it.

“Not good.”

“No? So, Patricia’s going to be at the wedding?” God, listening to myself, I sound like a gossipy college girl.

“Hell no. Maggie told her the wedding was two weeks after it’s actually planned. Then, she’s going to forget to send her an invite and block Patricia’s angry calls after the fact.”

“Sounds like a plan.” I chuckle. “What else is going on back home?”

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