Chapter One
MILES
One year ago
The noise from next door is getting louder.
Is there anything more annoying than the steady whomp-whomp-whomp of a bass speaker turned up to the max? Particularly when it’s not your music.
We once had a 12B in our squad whose hearing wasn’t great and he would play the cheesiest pop songs loud on his headphones when we were in Helmand - always with the bass amped up because it helped him get to sleep.
Problem was, everyone else could hear it and he refused to turn the noise down.
It was no surprise someone ‘accidentally’ sat on his headphones and broke them a couple of days later.
After a brief daydream where I cut their power, I decide I’m going to have to take the civil, make that civilian, approach.
Closing the door to our house quietly - Grandma’s asleep upstairs - fireworks light up the sky over Snowflake Falls, the multicoloured glow reflecting back on the snow.
Some guys hate flashing lights and explosions when they’re back on home turf, but I don’t mind it.
I’ve been to so many places now that some bright lights and rockets aren’t going to put me off being at home.
I have a week’s leave here in Snowflake; I’m here for New Year and then I’m back to base on the second day of January.
It’s been a little subdued, since my Grandma’s been sick, but she’s still insisted on making my favorite meals and we’ve spent time together watching her soap operas - well she has, I took a nap on the couch.
Nothing sends me to sleep faster than a daytime drama.
Bobby - my younger brother - and I have had a chance to catch up and we’ve done some jobs around the house together, fixing some roof tiles, ensuring everything is weather tight and warm.
He’s going to college this year so I want to be extra sure my Grandma doesn’t have to worry about stuff around the house.
It’s always been the three of us, one tight unit, since our parents died in a car crash when I was a teenager and Bobby was nine.
Our new next door neighbours are a group of twenty-something girls who I’ve only glimpsed from a distance.
It’s New Year’s Eve so it’s natural they’re having a party, but they’re taking it to extremes - midnight hasn’t even struck yet.
Every light is on, including a flashing strobe in one room, which gives a strange nightclub-like effect to the little house with the picket fence.
Knocking on the door, there’s no answer.
No surprise, the music is so loud. It’s some version of Auld Lang Syne, except sped up with a thumping dance soundtrack underneath.
I hammer on the door with my fist. I can shout loud - I get my practise in bellowing at my squad. There’s a creak as the door opens.
Standing there is the hottest girl I’ve seen in - I don’t know - forever.
Her hair is slightly wavy, she has beautiful brown eyes and curves that just don’t quit.
It takes a lot to throw me off my stride but I just stand there drinking her in.
She’s looking up at me in surprise, craning her neck to make eye contact.
“Hi.” She smiles at me. It’s killer. Unfortunately I’m not swayed that easily.
“I’m Miles. From next door.” I point at the house.
“Oh cool. I’m Taylor. Here for the party?” She winks at me. This is not going the way I expected.
“No. It’s way too loud.” I want to mention my grandmother is trying to sleep but I’m interested if Taylor will offer to turn the music down.
Her brow furrows. It’s distractingly cute. “Sorry, what did you say? I couldn’t hear you?”
Is she kidding? “I said. It’s. Way. Too. Loud.” I’m good at projecting my voice - years of drilling new recruits in all weather.
She steps back at the tone of my voice. Maybe I was a little harsh. She’s looking shocked.
“Well, I was going to apologize but I can see we are beyond that now.” Her friendly expression changes into something more defensive.
“Way beyond that.” I agree.
“Look I’ll tell them to turn it down. Some guys turned up with a sound system - my friend’s new boyfriend and his buddy.
They’re pretty rowdy. It is too loud. I know Mrs. Shepherd is right next door.
” She has to point as her words are drowned out by the music again. “Your grandma? She hasn’t been well?”
I’m not ready to get into a conversation about my grandmother’s illness - it’s breaking me up inside but I’m not the type to share my personal feelings with people I’ve just met. Even if they have soft brown eyes and sweet expressions.
“Just keep it down okay?” I’m trying to be reasonable to this gorgeous girl. I can’t help but admire her luscious curves which are showcased in a figure-hugging stretchy dress.
“Sure. I’ll tell them now.” She nods her head towards the inside of the house in case I don’t hear her soft voice over the thumping music.
I head back down the path as she closes the front door.
I’m not sure how to take this turn of events.
Part of me wants to march back in there and find out more about Taylor, kick back and have some fun.
Part is pissed at myself for handling it so bluntly.
Another is glad my grandma won’t get woken up.
I turn towards my house at the end of the path.
Suddenly the music is even louder. WTAF?
It’s crazily, bone-shakingly loud. If Grandma hasn’t woken up yet, this will definitely get her out of bed. I beat feet and jog back up to my neighbor’s door. A glass shatters inside and there are shouts over the throbbing music. I’ve had enough.
Shouldering the door open I head towards the ear-splitting bass which is coming from the living room.
Through the packed hallway, I walk past several people who have their hands over their ears.
I’m a big guy - 6'2'' - and a path starts to clear before me as the guests realize I’m not here to make friends.
Inside it’s a clusterfuck. Over the roar of music, there’s a guy in a stupid hat, shaggy hair and baggy jeans holding Taylor’s arm as she tries to turn the music down.
There’s another guy laughing and exhaling weed smoke - well his mouth is moving but nothing’s discernible over the bass.
Taylor’s glass is broken on the floor where he’s moved her arm.
She’s putting up a good fight but he’s stronger than her.
Unacceptable.
I move swiftly behind him before he’s had time to realize what’s going on.
I force his arm down, putting pressure on his wrist so he releases Taylor’s arm.
She backs away with wide eyes as I force him to hit the deck, using my other hand to pull down the sliders on the sound system’s volume control.
There’s an audible release as everyone’s ears adjust to the bearable volume again.
I put one knee on his chest. He isn’t even fighting back and his buddy is just staring at me with red-rimmed eyes.
“You’ve overstayed your welcome. You have one minute to get your stuff and get out of here. Do it now.” I press a little harder on his chest to set a fire under his ass.
Taylor has her arm around a girl with tears in her eyes, who I’m guessing is her housemate. The two of them watch as the stoned guys scurry around grabbing their gear and make a swift exit. Taylor looks like she’s going to say something but then her friend bursts into hysterical sobs.
“But Taylor I thought he was a good guy...” She wails. “It’s New Year. And I’m single again!”
Taylor gives her friend a squeeze. “I’ll get you a drink. It’s not midnight yet.”
She walks over to me. We both gaze at each other.
Is she going to say thank you? The staring lasts a beat too long, enough for me to be sure she’s not going to say anything.
I can’t stop looking into her eyes. There’s an electric sensation that gets me deep in my guts and makes my dick hard.
I need to get this under control - she’s a liability, or at least her friends are - and I should be back home making sure Bobby doesn’t spend New Year on his own.
“Right, looks like things are in order here now.” My eyes are still locked on hers.
“Okay, that was a little intense. I had it under control...” She’s about to say something else but I cut her off.
“No, you didn’t. The music was too loud and he’d got physical. It was way out of line.” I can’t believe she’s staring at me in outrage. She’s at least a foot shorter than me but she’s giving as good as she gets.
“Look, uh...Miles, we didn’t ask you to come in and play the tough guy. I appreciate you got the music turned down and I’m sorry if we were causing a disturbance but I was dealing with it in my own way. I’m not into strong-arm tactics.” She raises her eyebrows.
“Well, I’m trained to see when a situation is going rogue and deal with it appropriately.” I retort back.
“There are other ways of getting things done.” She’s still looking up at me with so much confidence.
“The situation wasn’t acceptable. I’m not going to stand here arguing with you.
Enjoy your night.” I turn around and walk out.
Through her open front door as I turn down my path her face peeks out as I walk back.
There’s the noise of the start of the New Year countdown from ten seconds to midnight and I have the sudden urge to turn around, run back down the path and scoop her into my arms, press her soft curves against me and kiss her, hard.
Instead, I hurry my pace to get inside and check on my little brother and grandmother.
Happy New Year.