Chapter 29 The Fight
THE FIGHT
ZEKE
Seeing Maggie grow smaller in my rearview mirror didn’t sit well in my stomach.
I immediately regretted leaving her, but given Bridges terse instructions to report to Leggett’s office faster than the speed of light, I didn’t have much of a choice.
Rage would be his mildest reaction at this point, and the more I could spare Maggie, the better.
I didn’t want Leggett anywhere near her.
The lengths I already wanted to go to protect her should have been frightening, yet I only marveled at having someone to protect. I loved knowing I had someone waiting for me. The certainty of seeing Maggie as soon as I got home.
Home…that’s exactly what she felt like.
A soldier at the DEERS office must have alerted the general as soon as Maggie and I arrived because by the time we reported to Bridges, I was in hot water.
My staff sergeant pulled me aside as Maggie stepped away to tell me that he didn’t appreciate Leggett getting his personal number.
Apparently, Leggett threatened Bridges’ pending promotion if he didn’t comply with getting me in Leggett’s office as soon as possible.
Now, as I braced myself outside his office, only the thought of seeing Maggie’s smile again made me enter.
For once Leggett appeared to be lost in thought.
He stared glumly out the window, unblinking and focused on something that I doubted existed in the here and now.
It gave me time to notice how much his hair had grayed, the jowls that developed along his jawline, and just how many frown lines permanently etched themselves along his brow.
“You wished to see me, sir?” I asked hesitantly. Speaking first never ended well, but I wanted to bounce on the balls of my feet in my haste to return to River’s Run.
Leggett jumped, startled out of his reverie. The frown lines deepened as he set his scowl upon me.
“I’ve been informed that you’re now married.”
Despite how much the emotional display would set him off, I grinned with pride. “Yes, sir, I am.”
The general leaned menacingly over his desk. “This isn’t funny, boy. You know the saying—if the Army wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one. You’re about to throw your whole life away with this stunt you pulled.”
“With all due respect, sir, is that what your marriage did for you?” My hands clenched into fists behind my back as I tried to calm the fury boiling beneath the surface. Leggett had no right to talk about Maggie like this.
A cold calm swept across the room at my accusation. He stalked around the desk, keeping his eyes on me like a snake that finally entrapped a field mouse. I knew what happened next and kept my gaze trained on a point over his shoulder. Striking back could land me in the brig.
“I think we both know I paid dearly for the damage my wife caused,” Leggett said icily. “Think of how much further I would be in my career if she didn’t make me take in snot-nosed, worthless bastards.”
Tension clenched my jaw shut so tightly that my gums burned.
I concentrated on that pain, which may have been why I didn’t notice Leggett’s fist until it made contact with my face.
It was a good hit since he caught me off guard, one that would leave a shiner, but not enough to result in a fractured cheekbone.
No medical attention. That was always Leggett’s rule.
“You are the biggest mistake I ever made,” Leggett spat. “I never should’ve let you stay.” Disdain dripped from his every word as a muscle feathered in his jaw.
My anger flared as I tried to rein in my temper.
It would be the general’s word against mine, and since we were in his office while he stood in his uniform, a court martial could ruin my entire future.
That’s what Leggett wanted. If he kept pushing, he might make me snap and then he could take away the one thing I cared about—Maggie.
I barely dared to breathe. When Leggett got like this, he was ruthless. Any small reaction on my part could set him off. As much as it pained me to do it, I straightened to my full height and returned to attention, maintaining my gaze on the wall over his shoulder.
After more than a minute of my silent compliance, Leggett deflated. “Get out of my sight, you piece of shit. Enjoy Korea—and everything that comes with it.”
I spun on my heel at his dismissal. Pain throbbed in my cheek from where he hit me, but it was his sinister threat about my new duty station that had me in a panic. Even on the other side of the world, Leggett had the power and influence to make my life a living hell.