Page 9 of Give Me Redemption

Jace

Being back in civilian life is odd. I’m used to flying bullets and the desert sun beaming down on my neck and back. While I don’t like being alone, I don’t like being around all these people either. They look at me strange, like they know I’ve killed people. Or that I’m fucked up a little. Every loud pop sends my adrenaline into overdrive and I’m looking for my SAW to shoot back.

I climb out of my truck and head into the grocery store filled with a little anxiety and not enough alcohol. It’s late in the evening now. I unpacked my shit and took a shower. The doors slide open and I grab a shopping cart before entering into the main store.

I head to the produce section, knowing I need to stock up on some fresh vegetables when a woman catches my attention.

Her hair is up, with little pieces falling around her neck. She’s in yoga pants and running shoes, a gleam of sweat covering her face when she turns around.

Wow.

I blanch, feeling my feet stop. Other people move around us, but I can’t seem to do the same.

And then she sees me.

And then she smiles.

She’s makeup-free, lightly pink cheeks, and a pretty set of green eyes.

I don’t return her kindness. In fact, I frown, because she’s caught me off guard and I just wanted some fucking groceries.

I remember myself and carry on with my shopping. I need milk and eggs and bacon and cheese. I grab meat from the freezer and a couple twelve packs of beer before I hightail it out of there.

I catch her checking out, just as I exit, and I can’t help but wonder if she comes here a lot.

I toss my bags into the truck and climb in, thinking I need something to wear if I’m going to Red, so I decide to go by and grab some new clothes. All my shit is Army and nothing else really. Once I’m done, I get a text from Bryce, telling me he’s ten minutes away.

I hurry in the house and put my groceries up before changing clothes. A knock sounds on the door as I’m sliding my blazer on. “Come in,” I say as I walk out of my bedroom, adjusting the bottom of my sleeves. I look when the door opens, and my brother walks in with two chicks beside him.

“Damn,” I say, impressed. “You didn’t tell me we were going to have dates.”

The girls look me over, both of them giggling. This is going to be easy as taking candy from a blind man.

“Ladies,” I greet.

Bryce narrows his eyes as I hold out my elbows for them to grab on. “Let’s go have some fun.”

He shakes his head and we all four exit my apartment. I sit in the back with one of the girls. She’s got her legs crossed and wears a dress that almost reveals too much. Her hair is bottle blonde and her lips probably taste sweet with all that gloss on. She’s just my type. Trashy.

“I heard you just got out of the Army,” she says to me.

My heart drops a little and I grow annoyed. I don’t want to talk about the fucking Army.

I nod, but don’t say anything. Thankfully, the club comes into view and I’m stunned. The line is down the street. We bypass the front and head to the alleyway. “Where are you going?” I ask Bryce.

“We can go in through the back. It’s just easier,” he replies, parking the car near the staircase. We all exit and head up. Bryce opens the door and we walk inside.

“Damn, you’ve done nothing with the place,” I say to him. It looks just like it did when I was seventeen.

“Go get us a drink and leave my shit alone,” he replies.

I laugh. “Still so fucking serious.” I walk over to the small bar he has and grab a bottle of tequila. Reaching around the back, I grab four shot glasses.

I fill each to the rim and hold mine up. “Here’s to getting trashed and forgetting our problems, yeah?” I say to the girls.

They laugh and toast me. My brother shakes his head before tossing back his drink. We head out of the loft and into the small bar area above Red.

There’s a two-way mirror where we can look out at the club. People are dancing below us, and that’s where I want to be. I grab a bottle from the bar and take a swig. “Let’s go down,” I say.

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