The Last Marine (30 page)

Chapter 39

Griffin handed Prudence her gun. “Next time someone points a gun at you, duck.”

She pulled a face. “If I hadn’t been so shocked by your miraculously healed presence, I would have.”

“Christ, you’ve gotten sassy.”

She might have taken exception to his comment but she caught his grin as he turned away.

“Head out the left door, boys.” Griffin turned back to her long enough to give her another quick kiss. He took her hand, ready to go but stopped dead in his tracks as he watched Grady leading the men to the doorway on the right. “Military left, you fucking Gomer.”

Without missing a beat, Grady turned and led the men back to the correct door.

Griffin hustled past them, taking up the lead with Prudence in tow.

“You always this mean when you’re in a fight?” Grady asked.

Behind him, Prudence snorted. “Just to the people he likes.”

Grady chuckled. “Well, that’s all right, then.”

Griffin poked his head out the doorway. The hallway was clear, but he could hear gunfire on the floor below. “Let’s move. The others are pinned down by some Blue Helmets. I’m hoping this will lead us behind them.”

He released Prudence’s hand and made his way down the hall towards the stairs. The sound of gunfire grew louder as they approached the wide staircase. “Line up, boys. Mow down anything wearing blue.”

Together, they went down the stairs to the smoke-filled second floor. The Blue Helmets had their backs to them. As one, Griffin, Prudence and the others opened fire on the soldiers, dropping half their number before the Blue Helmets even realized they’d been ambushed.

Griffin tried to pull Prudence behind him, but she shrugged him off and continued firing into the fray.

Merrick and Lucan entered the hallway as soon as the shots pinning them down slowed and within seconds, all the Blue Helmets were down.

Griffin glanced around. “Everyone okay?”

A chorus of ‘yesses’ came back to him.

“Merrick, lead us out of here. I’ll take up the rear.”

Griffin was impressed as hell with the men. They all seemed to be holding their own, alert and reliable. As they made their way through the halls and downstairs, they panned their weapons, shooting any stray Blue Helmets they came across.

Within moments they reached the storage room down stairs. He couldn’t believe their luck. Had the Blue Helmets taken off when they’d realized they were under attack? “I’m pretty sure there’s a sniper watching this door. Everybody haul ass out of here.”

Merrick flung open the door and ran out.

The rest followed.

He didn’t hear any gunfire, no shouts of warning.
Holy shit, they were going to make it out alive.

Griffin took hold of Prudence’s hand and bolted outside.

And came to a dead halt.

There must have been sixty Blue Helmets out here. All had their guns trained on them. The others had already dropped their weapons.

Shit.

With the spotlights shining on the door, Merrick must not have been able to see what waited for them. They’d run right into a trap.

Griffin lowered his weapon and dropped it to the ground. Prudence did the same.

“Nobody fight,” Griffin spoke loud enough for his men to hear. “U.N. law says they can’t shoot us unless we fight.” He stared hard at Lucan until his brother nodded. Then he glanced at Prudence. “Hey, Pru?”

“Yeah?”

One of the Blue Helmets motioned for them to raise their arms. He complied, though he kept Prudence’s hand in his.

“I know this isn’t the best time, but I, uh . . . .”

“Don’t you dare tell me you love me now.”

Griffin jerked his attention to Prudence. She sounded pissed off. “What?”

She frowned. “I’ve been waiting for ages to hear you say it. You will not spoil the moment by saying it now when we’re about to be arrested.”

“Look, lady—”

Prudence gasped.

“Hey, you two.” The Blue Helmet walked their way. “No talking.”

They both straightened, keeping their gazes forward.

Griffin scanned the area, searching for a way out of this. The Blue Helmet collected all their weapons—not that having their guns would do much more than assure their deaths at this point. Why hadn’t they started cuffing them? He shot a glance at Merrick, who appeared just as confused. They’d surrendered. They’d given up their guns. Why were the Blue Helmets still standing there keeping them in their sights?

The Blue Helmet walked off, leaving them all alone in front of the . . . firing squad.

Another quick glance at Merrick told him his brother-in-law had come to the same conclusion.

Griffin pulled Prudence behind him as the rest of their allies gathered closer.

Grady nodded to him. “It was an honor, Chief.”

Shit. “No way, Grady, the honor was all mine.”

Prudence ducked under his arm and pressed her face to his chest. “Say it.” Her arms wrapped around him and held him tight. “Please.”

“Ready.” The Blue Helmet’s voice rang out. A small spacecraft hovered behind them as if to assure him there was nowhere to run.

Christ, they’d been so damn close to getting away.

Griffin looked down into her lavender eyes. “I love you, Prudence Angelica Parnell.”

The corner of her mouth quirked. “You’ve never said my whole name before. I wasn’t sure you knew it.”

“Aim.” The Blue Helmets lifted their weapons.

He smiled and winked. “Political assassins are always known by three names.” Griffin cupped her cheek and pressed his lips to hers, determined to go out with her taste on his lips.

“This is the Rebels. Lower your weapons.”

Griffin lifted his head. That had come from the spacecraft. He looked up, his eyes narrowing. The unmarked craft hovered lower, causing their hair to whip around their faces. The sound of the ship’s gun turrets arming echoed. The speakers on the craft crackle to life. “Blue Helmets, lower your weapons or we will fire.” The Marine’s Hymn played in the background.

Griffin glanced back in time to see the Blue Helmets drop their guns.

The men around them whooped for joy.

Ropes unraveled from the ship’s loading dock and several armed soldiers rappelled down. They lifted their guns, rushing right past Griffin and the others and headed for the Blue Helmets.

Lucan clapped him on the back. “You recognize that music?”

“The Marine’s Hymn.” He pulled his brother into a hug. “You did good, little brother.”

“So did you.”

Merrick shook his head. “That’s not the Marine’s Hymn.”

Griffin tipped his head to the side as he listened and Prudence cuddled up to his side.

“We forged ahead with each decree, killed like your hired guns.”

That was his voice coming out of the speakers.

“From ships at sea to each air base, we died in your bomb runs.”

He shook his head. “Why the hell are they playing that?”

“You banned our kin from life on Earth, but I’ll wash your sins clean.”

Merrick grinned. “They call it, The Last Marine’s Hymn. It’s the Rebel’s rallying cry.”

“I’m nothing more than you made me, I’m the last U.S. Marine.”

“See, baby?” Prudence gave him an affectionate squeeze. “You did make a difference.”

Chapter 40

“Chief Payne?”

Griffin turned at the sound of his name. A big, heavily scarred warrior strode toward him, wearing a conglomeration of uniforms. He’d have been a good-looking guy but for the slashes over his face. “By God, it is you. I swear we all thought we were seeing a ghost.”

“Why’s that?”

“Word came back to Earth that a fire gutted the
Genesis V
and left her dead in space. You weren’t listed among the survivors.”

“It was a pretty close thing. Who are you?”

“Chief Donovan Reese.” The scars on his face stretched tight as he favored Griffin with a smile. “I’d like to shake your hand, sir.”

Griffin stared at the Chief’s outstretched hand for a heartbeat before offering his own. “Until a couple days ago I didn’t think there were any other military left.”

“We were scattered all and sundry. When the bases were taken out, those who survived hid. Well, until we all saw you go after Parnell. You gave us the courage to fight back. Several of us started searching for survivors and acquiring weapons. Took us awhile to be in a position to put up a decent fight, but five months after you were transported, we attacked. The U.N. folded two weeks ago.”

“Glad to hear it. Let’s hope whatever government takes over does better this time.”

Chief Reese looked mean as hell when he frowned. “You won’t be returning with us? We could use your help. With the U.N. gone, the infighting back home is getting a little rough.”

“No, sir. As of today, I’m retired.”

“I’m sorry to hear it, but wish you well.”

Griffin nodded and turned to walk away.

“Attention!”

He paused as the soldiers around the area came to full attention, saluting. For a moment, he thought someone important had walked onto the field, but looking back at the Chief, he, too, held himself at attention, facing Griffin.

Swallowing past the sudden lump in his throat, Griffin straightened himself and saluted back.

It was over. He could sleep tonight with the knowledge that, while he hadn’t always made the best of decisions and while he’d made mistakes, he had still tried. And he’d made a difference.

Griffin’s gaze locked onto Prudence, who stood with Merrick and Lucan. Damn, she looked beautiful. Even with her face bruised and her arm bleeding she was the prettiest woman he’d ever seen.

Lucan pulled away from the group and stepped into Griffin’s path. “One month with no decisions.”

Griffin opened his mouth to argue, but Merrick cut him off. “You promised.”

This was ridiculous, but seeing the worry in his brother’s eyes, he knew he couldn’t reneg now. He let out a deep sigh. “Fine. One month. Now move.”

Lucan got out of his way, but not before Griffin saw his smirk of satisfaction.

Griffin pulled Prudence away from the others. He held her hand, worrying her knuckles with his thumb. “Angel, I’ve got a bit of a problem I need your help with.”

Her brows drew together in concern.

“See, in order to get the others to help me rescue you, I had to make this promise . . . .”

Her gaze cut to the side to where the Rebels were loading Blue Helmets into their spacecraft. “I’m not going back to Earth.” She bit her lip. “I know I’m selfish for it, but I don’t want you going back either, you’ve—”

“No, now, I didn’t say anything about that, now did I?”

“No, but—”

“My promise was to stay here and do one month of therapy before I make any more decisions.”

She threw her arms around him. “Baby, that’s great—”

Christ, everybody seemed to think he needed fixing but him. He pulled back a little and rested his forehead to hers. “My problem is, that means I can’t ask you to marry me for a month.”

Lavender tears pooled in her eyes.

“And, see, I was hoping, I might be able to talk you into waiting for me.”

Prudence threw herself into his arms. “I was starting to think my daughter and I would be living here alone.”

Daughter? They were having a baby? His heart swelled at the idea. She’d have to marry him now. If he had to chase her around the planet twice, he’d badger her until she said yes. He pulled away enough to see her face. “Daughter? How do you know you’re not carrying my son?”

“Because I have lavender eyes.” She grinned. “Pink-eyed Lythonian women have sons. Are you disappointed?”

“Are you kidding? I’ll have two angels all to myself. I’ll be the happiest man on the planet.”

Epilogue

One month later

Griffin gripped his sidearm in both hands, studying the scene around him.

The compound. He stood in the compound, in the dining room where he’d almost lost Prudence. His heart picked up a beat. People crowded around the dining table, laughing and eating.

A loud pop echoed in his ears and he swung around, weapon raised and ready to find a waiter holding a foaming bottle of champagne.

Griffin let out a shaky breath. He hadn’t fired this time. He was getting better at this. The virtual reality simulator was meant to expose him to his triggers, loud noises, crowds, and stress to give him a chance to practice his self-control. To re-learn how to be a human being after being a soldier for so long.

The scene shifted. Now he stood in the town square. Blue Helmets mingled in with the citizens of Diamond Fjord. The noise from the hawkers, the crowd, and live animals was almost defending. Bodies pressed up against him as they brushed passed. He felt himself starting to unravel. He took a deep breath, hustling himself to the sidelines where he could press his back against the wall. Better. That was better. He did the breathing exercises Doc Lambert taught him, knowing he was watching.

His heart slowed.

The scene changed.

This was war. The air held the tinny quality of blood and too many photon blasts. Everything looked scorched, and soldiers battled around him. Rockets blasted past overhead. Explosions rocked the ground. Men shouted and screamed.

He knew it was a simulation. He knew it, but his body didn’t seem to care.

He lifted his weapon ready to fight.

The scene went blank.

“That’s enough for now, we’re almost out of time.”

Griffin pulled off the virtual reality headgear and stripped off the jumpsuit. He handed both, along with the Lockheed Martin replica, to Doc Lambert.

Christ, he was shaking. Sweaty. He inhaled a deep breath and stared at Doc Lambert.

He was nothing like Griffin had expected. He’d pictured some polished, refined male he’d have nothing in common with, someone who’d never understand. Instead, Lambert wore his status as an ex-soldier for everyone to see in the form of a prosthetic arm and leg. Burns covered most of the left side of his neck and face. Griffin had never dared to utter the words, “You don’t understand.” None of them did.

Doc Lambert folded his arms over his chest. “You’re doing better.”

“I didn’t shoot.” It was an accomplishment. First time in that damn simulator he’d taken out half the town.

The corner of the doc’s lips curved. “But you still need the security of that weapon in your hand.”

Griffin inhaled a deep breath. Yeah, he was doing better, but he wasn’t where he needed to be yet.

“You’re doing your affirmations every day?”

“Yeah.” As if Prudence, Merrick, and Lucan would let him get away with not doing them. Every time he started getting moody, the least bit argumentative, one of them would bring attention to Prudence’s belly. To his daughter. He would be better by the time his little girl arrived.

“Let me hear them.”

Griffin fidgeted. While he understood the theory behind affirmations, he felt like a complete idiot saying them. “I have control over myself, the sole thing in my control.”

“What else?”

“I can’t change the past or predict the future. I live in the now.” That one was important. He couldn’t change what he’d done, and if he allowed himself to think about it, he started slipping. If he stayed with the now, he could live with himself.

Lambert nodded. “One more.”

Griffin’s jaw clenched. His throat grew tight. He knew what the doc was after.

Doc Lambert nodded. “Take your time and breathe. I can wait.”

He could. But Prudence couldn’t. He was already late which meant she’d be getting worried. He inhaled a shaky breath. “I love myself.”

Doc Lambert lifted a brow.

Christ Almighty, he hated that expression. He cleared his throat and swiped at his eyes. “I love
all
of myself.”

Doc Lambert leaned his hip on his desk. “You even managed to hold my gaze that time. Maybe you’re starting to believe what you say.”

Griffin nodded. Maybe. It was getting easier to live in the now. Prudence, Lucan, and Merrick kept him busy. They’d not only accepted him as is, but they embraced him.

“So.” The Doc stared at him, bobbing his head up and down. “Will I be seeing you Tuesday?”

Griffin restrained the urge to roll his eyes. Today marked one month. He’d made no commitment to further therapy beyond that. But Tuesday was group session. Tuesdays reminded him he wasn’t alone in this. Merrick went. Grady went. Half the damn town showed up for group session. Big Jake even joined in once a month when he brought his brood to town.

And hell, Prudence made it worth his time, always praising and fawning. Besides, he made a promise to her last night. He sighed. “Four o’clock, right?”

Doc Lambert smiled. That was high praise from the doc. “And Thursday?”

“Yeah.” He pointed to the virtual reality device. “Haven’t quite mastered that yet.” He wanted to be able to walk through the town square with Prudence without having an attack. He wanted to be able to take her out to eat or go see a show. He couldn’t do that unless he mastered that damn thing. Until his screwed up head figured out the difference between a real threat, and the unexpected noises that went with living.

Doc Lambert’s eyes twinkled, but he kept his expression blank. “Two o’clock, again?”

Griffin nodded and stood. “You coming?”

“Wouldn’t miss it. Go on, I’ll be right behind you.”

Griffin strode out of Dr. Lambert’s office and into the bright morning sunlight, adjusting his tie. The whole town was quiet. The shops were closed up tight and the shades were drawn on most of the residential windows above the storefronts.

Lucan and Merrick waited alone on the deserted street. Lucan opened his arms wide. “What are you doing? We’re late.”

Griffin shrugged. “Had to set my next appointment.” He strode past his brother and his husband and headed up the street.

Merrick matched his stride. “So, you’re gonna keep going?”

He almost growled. They were always nagging and checking up on him. If it didn’t feel so damned good to have people give a shit, he might have to do something about it. “Yeah.” He kept his eyes forward, trying to ignore their grins.

Lucan elbowed him. “Does Pru know?”

“Of course she does.” At the end of the street, he turned left—military left—and headed for the church. Tendrils of apprehension wound tight in his gut. He still couldn’t believe his good fortune.

Today, he was going to make Prudence his.

“I still think you cheated,” Merrick said. “You weren’t supposed to make any decisions until after one month.”

“I didn’t. I asked her to wait.”

“Yet here we are, walking up to a church.” Merrick shook his head. “A wedding takes planning, Griff.”

“I haven’t asked yet.”

Merrick snorted.

“In his defense, Prudence and I took care of the planning. She didn’t want to give him too much time to sweat over the whole thing.” Lucan glanced at Griffin and laughed. “Look at you. You can’t tell me you’re worried she’ll say no?”

No, he wasn’t worried about that. Not anymore. Prudence was a sweet, loving woman who told him in a thousand ways every day how much she cared. He was worried this wouldn’t be everything she deserved. He was worried he wouldn’t be able to make today as memorable as he wanted it to be for her.

They reached the doors of the church and Lucan clapped his hand on Griffin’s shoulder. “For God’s sake, breathe, man.”

Merrick chuckled. “Don’t mind him. He might act calm now, but you should’ve seen him the day we got married. He looked greener than you do.”

“I wanted it to be perfect,” Lucan said at the same time Griffin said, “I want it to be perfect.”

“Perfect is overrated.” Merrick shook his head. “You be yourself and you’ll be fine.”

His brother and brother-in-law opened the doors wide and for a split second, he thought he might pass out. His attention skipped over the citizens of Diamond Fjord crowded into the pews and zeroed in at the end of the long aisle on Prudence. Christ, he was gonna have all those people at his back.

Lucan leaned in and whispered, “We’re right behind you, Griffin.”

Prudence caught sight of him and grinned. He could do this.

“Isn’t this a little backward,” Merrick whispered. “The bride should walk up the—”

Lucan wacked him on the chest. “Shush.”

Griffin shrugged. “I’m late.” He strode down the aisle, Lucan and Merrick hot on his heels and for a second, his mind flashed back to the first time he walked down an aisle through a crowd toward her. A lot had changed since then. They were both different people now.

She smoothed her hands down the pale lavender gown she wore, the color lighting up those gorgeous lavender eyes of hers.

He didn’t stop when he reached the bottom of the steps leading to the altar like the others did. “I’ve got a question I need to ask you, Angel.” His voice didn’t carry far, but Prudence heard him, and that’s all that mattered.

She was wringing the flowers right off her bouquet. “I thought maybe you changed your mind.”

Griffin shook his head as reached the top of the stage. The noise from the onlookers quieted as those in the audience tried to hear. “I’m, uh, not a rich man, but see, I’ve got this plan.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re plans scare me, Warrior.”

He grinned. “I’m opening a survival training studio next week.”

She winked. “Something tells me people will be coming from miles around to train with you.”

“I might already be scheduled out through next year. And I have a little side gig helping Merrick out.” He shrugged. “But I don’t have a big, beautiful house.”

“Hm. I bet you’ve got a nice little add-on attached to your brother’s place. Sounds like the perfect home to raise a daughter, surrounded by family and love.”

He chuckled. “Smart-ass.”

“I’m trying to help things along, I’m running out of bouquet.” She lifted the sad little posey for his inspection. “Griffin Jude Payne, did you have a question or not?”

He drew her into his arms, his heart near to bursting from all the happiness swelling in his chest. “All I can guarantee you is that I’ll love you to my dying breath the way no one else ever could. So, knowing all that, Prudence Angelica Parnell, will you marry me?”

“Why yes, Griffin Jude Payne, I will.”