Forever's Promises (Forever In Luck Series Book 1) Read Free Page A

it done.” Then she turned and walked from the
room.  
    He
closed his eyes, thinking back on his stupidity. He should’ve gone after her. She’d
been angry, and he’d been a demanding ass. But he didn’t, deciding to give it a
week or so. He’d been foolish, and she’d been right to call him on it. They’d
broken up, and although he intended for it to be temporary, he went and made it
permanent by leaving without a word. There was no question about it, he’d let
her down, and if there was ever a reason for him to never go home, it was her.
    He’d
survived Basic and Advanced Training, Airborne School, the Ranger
Indoctrination Program, as well as Ranger School, and several tours of duty in
Iraq and Afghanistan, and yet none of it compared to the torment he endured
knowing that he’d foolishly let her go. He’d see her again. Beyond
a doubt. Even so, as an elite warrior, battle ready and trained to
overcome the toughest challenges, and the most impossible odds, he knew one
look from her would be a full on assault he might not survive. No, there’d been
nothing in his years of training with the Army that lent his heart protection
from her.
    Jake’s
ringing cell phone cut into his thoughts. Looking around, he realized they’d
crossed over into Wisconsin, and were nearing Luck. He’d made it, he’d
survived. I’m so close to a new beginning, he thought, and I never want to have
anything more to do with the Army, ever.
    “Something’s
going on at the house, and I need to get back right away,” Jake said,
interrupting his thoughts. “So, we’ll head there first. You can take my truck till
you figure out what you’re doing, and I’ll use this one in the meantime. If
things don’t go well with your Mom and Dad, come back to the house and we’ll
get you set up.”
    “Everything okay?” Nate inquired,
looking over.
    “I
think so. Dad just called to say he needed me home right away, that’s all.”
    “Jake.”
    “Yeah.”
    “I’m
sorry about your mom, and I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me,” Nate
offered with complete sincerity.
    “I
know,” Jake replied, with a nod of his head. “You would’ve been there if you
could’ve. Things happen. The most important thing is, that you’re here now, and that’s good.”
    “I
appreciate that, and all you’re doing for me, and I’m glad to be here too.”
    Pulling
into the farmyard, and rolling to a stop outside the barn, they got out of the
truck. Standing in the yard were Jake’s dad and brothers. Making their way
towards one another, Jake’s dad held out his hand, and upon taking it, Nate was
pulled into a warm embrace. It’d always been like that, the Albrecht’s treating
him like he was one of their own.  
    “I’m
glad to see you son, and wish we could catch up some, but we can’t, and you
need to leave, now.” Karl Albrecht said firmly.
    “Dad!” Jake responded,
shocked at his father’s welcome.  
    “No,
I’m serious,” Karl said firmly. “You need to go. You can’t stay.”
    Irritated,
Jake replied, “What’s going on? Someone care to explain?”
    “Don’t know,” his younger brother, Nik, answered,
while shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head. “Good to see you,
Nate.”
    “Yeah
Nate, glad you’re back,” Jake’s older brother, Kris, added, as he turned to the
group. “Not sure what’s going on though, I’m confused as ever, but just so you
all know, there’s a car coming up the drive.”
    They
all turned and watched as the car approached.
    “Hell
and damnation!” Karl Albrecht spat.  
    “Dad! Who is it?”
Jake asked, a look of confusion and concern on his
face.
    Clearly
annoyed at being caught between a rock and a hard place, he responded amidst
tight lips, “Linnea.”
    They
all groaned as the full impact of the L-bomb hit.
    Hell
and damnation indeed, Nate thought, taking a fortifying breath. He braced
himself as he stood taking it all in. In a matter of seconds, a tiny microcosm
of time,