~Raiden~
Honestly, I worried Mama wouldn’t like Elli. Every time I thought about bringing her over I would start feeling angsty and panicky. I never brought home a woman before, not when I was in high school and definitely not between tours. There wasn’t any point, those girls never stuck around to mean something, I made sure of that.
I already know Elli is different, I feel differently around her. Like I am a changed man, I don’t even know how I was satisfied with what I had before. I could never just drop her, I think I’m too far gone now especially.
I realize now that I should have brought her over sooner, any doubts I had, disappear as I watch Mama lead her into the kitchen and sit her on a bar stool, chattering away about things I don’t care to listen to. I’m too busy taking in the scene before me, my two favorite women in the world in the same room getting along really very well. It makes my heart do funny things in my chest, reminding me just how much Eli affects me. I stay silent, love being around both of them and their infectious energy.
After this, I plan on taking my girl back to my favorite spot on the beach and giving her a night she’ll never forget. I received some good news from my superiors today and I can’t wait to tell her. I haven’t even told Mama yet but I know she’ll love that I won’t be in dangerous situations any longer. I don’t even really know what I am going to do when I get out but I feel at this point I could do anything I wanted.
Mama is still chewing Elli’s ear off and she is absolutely soaking it up. I love how well they’re getting along. I feel my phone start vibrating in my pocket so I pull it out and see it’s a text from Weston.
Weston: Can’t do it anymore, man.
Me: What do ya mean? Do what?
Weston: Too many lives lost, they fucking haunt me.
I stare down at my phone, the only sound I hear is the blood rushing through my ears. This just doesn’t feel right, something is so terribly wrong.
Me: Where are you?
Weston: Doesn’t matter. This ends now.
I can’t see, I can’t breathe. My best friend. Fuck, not my best friend.
I don’t register Elli coming up to me, I don’t hear Mama gently calling my name. I am so numb and so terrified that my best friend is going to kill himself and that I’ll be too late.
Too late. Fuck I have to go.
I shake my head and my girls are standing in front of me fear written on their faces. “I…I… It’s Weston.” Elli’s face goes deathly pale and she turns to Mama.
“Rita, we have to go.” She frowns but doesn’t say anything else, just puts a loving hand on my shoulder before we walk out the door.
I hop in the truck, forgetting to be a gentleman and open my girl’s door for her but she climbs up without a fuss and tells me to drive. I don’t know what I would do if she wasn’t here telling me what to do. I have so much unimaginable fear in my heart that I can barely operate.
“Raid,” she says so softly I almost don’t hear her. I look over, my face stoic. “You need to pull out of it.” She doesn’t continue, she doesn’t offer any words of strength or advice, just “you need to pull out of it.”
She’s right.
I am a United States Marine, I can fucking handle this.
I punch the accelerator headed toward Weston’s house. Thankfully he isn’t far and it takes us no time at all. I just pray we aren’t too late. I pray he’s actually there.
“Elli, I need you to stay here.” She opens her mouth to argue but I give her a warning look.
If something already happened I don’t want her anywhere near it. I hop out and slam the door to my truck, taking off to the front door.
I open it when I realize it isn’t locked. It’s so dark in here, the sun having gone down only thirty minutes ago but there aren’t any lights on inside. I feel along the wall for a light switch and flip it on when my fingers brush up against it. My eyes take a second to adjust to the sudden brightness and when they do all I want is to slam them shut. Weston is sitting on the floor, back against the wall that leads to his living room, with a 9mm in his hand. I can see the safety is off and he doesn’t so much as glance my way when he notices I’m here.
“Weston, buddy you need to look at me,” I say it softly but with authority, hoping his military training will trigger a response to command.
He turns his head slowly toward me and when I take in his features, I feel my heart crash through my body and land at my feet. His eyes are bloodshot and full of sorrow, blue almost black circles are shadowed under them and he looks about ten shades more pale than normal.
I drop to my knees to get on his level and start to move toward him. He watches me and tightens his grip on the gun. I notice it and stop moving, not wanting to cause him to make any rash decisions.
“Weston, I need you to talk to me.”
He moves his eyes in my direction but he looks right through me. He pauses for a few beats then speaks quietly and full of anguish.
“I just can’t live with this...this fucking guilt.”
He throws his head forward between his knees, then back as hard as he can into the wall behind him. It startles me but still I move to get closer to him, feeling the time slipping through my fingers like sand.
“Buddy, it’s going to be okay. We can get you someone to talk to.”
He levels his gaze at me and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
“I survived when they died. Our brothers. Died. Raiden, DON’T YOU GET THAT?” His tone rattles me, this person in front of me isn’t who I know, I don’t know this man. He shakes his head in disgust at me and brings the gun up to his face, examining it with sick curiosity.
“Weston, I’m begging you, man, put it down.”
He smirks, chilling my blood. He throws his head back in a cold laugh so I use that to my advantage, moving to tackle him to the floor. He may be down right now but he’s just as strong as I am and he’s desperate. He throws an expert punch and it strikes me in the temple, rendering me dizzy, giving him enough time to get on top of me. I reach up to knock him over and we’re locked in a deadly wrestling match. The gun is clutched by both of us, one hand over the other, waving in the air pointing right toward the open doorway. I almost have him off of me, the gun almost in my control. I am so close to having him pinned when he pulls the trigger. The gunshot nearly shatters my eardrums, ringing becoming the only sound in my world.
Somehow, amongst the aftershock of the bullet firing, a small feminine gasp floats in through the open doorway and nearly puts an end to my entire world.