Gunny Bokowski grew tired of waiting. “Right fucking now, Cruz!”
I looked back to Cassie who had tears falling from her eyes. I hated seeing her cry, and in the past day I had seen more tears fall from those gorgeous eyes than I had cared to see in all of my lifetime. Her hurt brought me hurt, and I hated it.
My eyes swung over to the living cancer stick, sitting there, satisfaction written all over her face. I could tell that the fact that I was being led out made her happy. It was heartbreaking for her daughter, and she seemed to thrive on that shit. I took a couple of slow and methodical steps over to where Chavez and Bokowski were standing, then looked back at Cassie, sadness written all over her face. I didn’t say a word as I allowed them to reign me in, but Cassie stopped crying long enough to yell out, “Yes, Alex. It’s a yes.”
Standing enclosed between the two men, I had never felt so free. To hear those words come out of Cassie’s mouth was the key to freedom. I was floating on cloud fucking nine, and nothing else factored into my moment of happiness as I stood to lose so much, but gained so much more in return.
I mouthed
I walked out of the hospital, looking like a criminal as curious eyes glued onto me as I stood encased between two stern faced, uniformed gunnies. But the accusations, the punishments—none of it was enough to take away what I had just won. Cassie Bennett was the ultimate prize, and the love she gave me was worth more than anything else. My temporary punishment was no match for my lifelong gain.
As I was led into the back of the duty car, a satisfied grin creeped across my face.
Like Cassie’s butterfly, in every way that mattered, I was finally free.
Glossary
A-duty: assistant to the Duty NCO
Barracks Whore: female who sleeps around with males in the barracks
Blouse: long sleeve top to the cammies, covering the green t-shirt
Boot Bands: elastic bands used to keep the pant legs tight around the boot.
Bootcamp: training to transform civilians into Marines. Performed at Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego.
Boot Marines: military slang term for a new Marine
Brig: military prison
Buddy Program: going through entry level training with a friend/buddy
Cammies: camouflage utility uniform
Chevrons: symbols of enlisted ranks above private
Chief Instructor: head instructor in charge of all instructors, insuring proper training to students.
Chow: food
Commanding Officer (CO): in charge of the entire unit
Company Gunny: Gunnery Sergeant in charge of everyday operations for the unit.
Company Honorman: top graduate out of bootcamp
Court Martial: a judicial proceeding
Cover: headgear
Devil Dog: nickname for a Marine
Dog Tags: the informal name for the identification tags worn by military members.
Duty NCO- Non Commissioned Officer responsible for patrol and security of a specified area (Corporal or Sergeant)
Field Day: detailed and thorough cleaning of an area
Firewatch: acting as a patrolling security guard
Groupie: usually a female who actively seeks out military members
Gunny: nickname for Gunnery Sergeant
Headgear: hats, helmets, caps, etc…
Knife hand: fingers extended and joined with the thumb along the side of the hand. Used to point at someone or something.
MCT: Marine Combat Training (skills training for non-infantry Marines)
MOS: Military Occupational Specialty (job classification)
NJP: Non-Judicial Punishment
Oorah: spirited cry used to respond to a verbal greeting or show great enthusiasm.
PCS: Permanent Change of Station (transfer to another base)
PFT: Physical Fitness Test (semi-annual test measuring strength, agility, and endurance.)
PT gear: Physical Training gear (green workout clothing)
Seabag: duffel bag used to carry one’s personal belongings
Service Charlies: consists of green trousers and short sleeved, khaki shirt
Seven Ton: a large military truck
TAD: Temporary Assigned Duty (temporarily detached from home unit for a short amount of time)
Tag Chasers: see groupie
UA- Unexcused Absence
Walking Mattress: derogatory term used to describe females who sleep around
Wall Locker: closet style storage area
Stay Tuned for….
Compromising
The exciting conclusion to Alex and Cassie’s story!
Acknowledgements
As always, I have a whole host of people to thank.
I want to thank my wonderfully, supportive husband, who provided his expertise on the Marine Corps to help make this book possible. Thank you for your service, for your support, and for your love. I found my “ALEX” when I married you, babe!
I want to thank Leeann, for your undying love and support of my work, and everything you have done to help get my name out there. You rock. Someday I’ll be in GA so we can meet. J
Steph, Michlene, and KaTonya…what the hell would I do without you girls? You were all excellent beta readers and I appreciated every tweak you had me make. Even when I got crazy and neurotic, you stood there, tapping those fingers, waiting for me to calm the hell down. Thanks for the lifelong friendship as well as your love and time.
To Jen, my super awesome editor who always makes my crap look and sound amazing, you have no idea how much I adore you. Thanks for loving my work, pushing me, and working your ass off to make it the best product that it could possibly be. I’m forever grateful.
To the bloggers, those who I have worked with before and those who decided to take a chance on my book, THANK YOU! You are an author’s lifeline and I am so grateful for you. Ena Burnette, you are an amazing woman.
