Chapter 5
Rocker dialed the number his friend, Tex, sent him. He swiped his forehead as he waited for her to answer.
“Hello,” Rayne answered.
“Uh, hello. I’m Rocker. Our mutual friend, Tex, put me in touch with you. He said you know a friend of mine, Scarlett Peterson.”
“Scarlett? Did something happen to her?” Rayne asked, concerned.
“She’s at home after sustaining some injuries. I’m calling because we need your help,” Rocker rushed.
The woman on the other end paused. “Why didn’t Scarlett call me directly?”
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but she suffered trauma to her head, causing her to go blind.
Scarlett returned home and has refused to return to the specialists or even leave her room.
I’ve stayed in town for the last week, and to be honest, her parents do whatever she requests.
They’re not helping matters. Sassy Pants refuses to let us buy her a drink, much less bring her food. She’s in trouble.”
“Sassy Pants?” Rayne repeated. “Who the heck gave her that name?”
“We did, ma’am. Shortly after she arrived, one of the guys gave her shit about reading books all the time. Scarlett gave as good as she got,” he explained.
The woman chuckled. “I can imagine she did. Scarlett’s obsessed about her books.”
“That’s another problem. She hasn’t touched any of them.
I know she can’t read them, but she won’t even listen to an audiobook.
The men and I feel she needs an intervention.
I understand her folks’ position. They almost lost their daughter.
Her brother, Ryan, knows she’s struggling, but can’t seem to reach her.
But she rarely engages in conversation, barely eats, and no longer feels useful.
Scarlett saved us when we found ourselves in a jam.
We want to return the favor,” Rocker explained as he paced the room.
“I’ll see when I can get a flight out,” Rayne assured him. “What do you want me to do?”
“The guys have tried talking her into moving to the Winters Foundation for treatment. Tex says it’s a great place, and Sledge agreed since he’s currently staying there.
We can’t even get her to discuss it. You’re her friend, and I hope maybe you’ll convince her.
Tex says you don’t take a bunch of bullshit, and she needs someone who’ll be blunt with her. ”
“What makes you think she’ll listen to me?” Rayne asked.
“Honestly, I’m hoping if another woman talked to her, she might listen. I’m not sexist, but we guys aren’t getting through to her, and her mom coddles her at every opportunity. We’re running out of ideas,” he admitted.
Rayne sighed. “I’ll be there in the morning.”
“Thank you. I’ll reimburse you for your trouble,” Rocker offered.
“Scarlett’s an old friend of mine. I’m happy to help if I can. Can you pick me up at the airport if I text you my flight information? Do you mind sending me a picture ID? Ghost will want your information once I tell him.”
Rocker smiled, already respecting whoever the hell this Ghost person might be. “Absolutely. I’ll text it to you now. If Ghost needs to speak with me or any of my brothers, he only needs to call. Tex can also vouch for me.”
“He’ll appreciate that. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said before hanging up.
Rocker stopped by the bedside table of his hotel room and pulled out his wallet. He snapped a picture of his military ID and sent it to Rayne’s number. Sitting down to his cold dinner, he took a bite of the take-out burger and texted Sledge.
I reached Rayne. She’ll fly in tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted.
A few minutes later, Sledge replied.
Good. I say if this doesn’t work, we plan our own extraction. We can’t let Sassy P down.
We won’t.
Rocker placed his phone down while he shoveled the food into his mouth. Fifteen minutes later, it buzzed with Rayne’s flight information.
When he finished, he threw the wrappers in the garbage and headed to his car.
Every day, he stopped by Scarlett’s home, only to be told she had fallen asleep or suffered from a headache and refused to see any visitors.
He hoped this Rayne might have some better ideas before he took Sledge’s advice and scaled the side of Scarlett’s house and hauled her ass out the window.
There weren’t many people he’d willingly go to such lengths for, but Sassy Pants got him home to see his wife and two boys when he found himself cornered and with no way out. The memory flashed in his mind.
“There’s no way out, I’m surrounded,” he whispered into his mic, holding his wounded arm.
“I’ve lost contact,” he said to no one as the static grew louder.
Rocker leaned against the wall, resigned to his fate.
The unexpected explosion disoriented him, and his coms stopped working.
His teammates seemed to have disappeared.
Then an angelic voice echoed in his ear.
“I’m right here, Rocker. Tell me what you see,” Sassy Pants ordered calmly.
“I’m in a makeshift shed or barn. There’s smoke nearby. It’s coming through the cracks. They’re searching for us, I’m not gonna make it,” he said desperately. “Tell my wife I didn’t suffer. Make sure she knows I love her and the boys,” his voice trembled.
“Take out your tampon and focus. You can tell her yourself. Sledge and Parrot are working their way to you, and I have air support en route. ETA of six minutes. You mentioned a barn. Do you see any hay or animals?”
His head pounded, and the building shifted when he opened his eyes. “There’s a pile of straw.”
“Do you have any injuries?” she asked.
“My arm won’t move. There’s a piece of wood stuck in my shoulder,” he reported, moving against the thin wall.
“Listen to me, Rocker. Where’s your gun?” she asked firmly.
“I got it with me. I’m dizzy and can’t see shit,” he growled, bracing himself for the insurgents to rush inside.
“Can you get to the straw? Hunker down. ETA three minutes. Do you hear me, Rocker? I need you to take cover until Sledge and Parrot come for you. You’ll hear the air strikes any minute.”
“They’re getting closer,” he told her, trying to raise his weapon.
“Don’t speak. Click the mic when you reach the straw.
Lie down and cover yourself. Hold on, Rocker.
Listen to my voice and take one step at a time.
You’ll owe me a trilogy when I get your ass back here.
I might even make you read one of my trashy novels.
You might learn a few things your wife might like.
” Her voice acted like a beacon in the storm, and he clung to it until he reached the area and clicked his mic.
“ETA, one minute,” she assured him. “Hold on, Rocker. I got you.”
A minute later, all hell broke loose, missiles hit their targets, and relief flooded him when Sledge and Parrot appeared. Sledge threw him over his shoulder while Parrot watched their six. Another team rushed them to safety.
Two weeks later, he smiled as he ordered Scarlett a new thriller trilogy from his hospital bed.
No. Failing Sassy P in her time of need wasn’t an option.