Her Lifeline: (A Romantic Suspense) Read Free Page B

wasn’t realistic.
    “I’ve got a good feeling, hon.”
    “I hope you’re right.”
     
    ****
     
    Nick made it to Austin later that evening and dropped the car off at the address listed. He was somewhat familiar with the city, but it had been years since he had been there and lots of things had changed. As a kid he spent a lot of time in south Austin, getting into trouble and avoiding going home at all costs. Now he found himself back and a nostalgic feeling crept in. His old stomping ground was within walking distance of the rental place, and he debated on going by.
    Hoisting his duffel bag, he walked out onto the sidewalk, feeling the humid air against his skin. It was a different heat than what he experienced in Afghanistan and Iraq. The moisture was thick and he was sweating after just a few steps. He loved the feel on his skin. Anything to get his mind off of the Middle East and all of the horrible things he experienced there.
    Some residual pain built up in his leg and he tried to mask the limp he had picked up – one of the many souvenirs from his tours that he couldn’t return. He still felt he was fit physically, and his injuries hadn’t been enough to discharge him, at least not when he had first gotten them. Now the army was using them as one of the reasons he was let go due to budget cuts. Gritting his teeth, Nick tried to push the thought aside. He still couldn’t believe that it had served as his job and lifestyle for so long, and they just tossed him out like trash after so many hard years put in.
                  He had to get it out of his head. The papers had been signed. He was a civilian. He had to force himself to push past it. It wasn’t going to be easy.
    After about ten minutes of walking, he came across the cul-de-sac where he had spent one of his summers with a foster family. His parents had been non-existent in his life, and the family in Austin was one of the few he could think about and find comfort in. A simple pat on the back, a nod of encouragement, and most of all, the warm hugs from the foster mom. He wished he could have spent all of his time there, but it didn’t work out the way he wanted.
    The houses on the block hadn’t changed much. Trees lined the sidewalk and tons of kids were still out playing. It warmed Nick’s heat for a second, but when he finally made his way to the dead end, a cold feeling settled in, replacing any nostalgia he was experiencing just a few minutes before. Residual thoughts of his mother and father flashed before his eyes and he closed them, trying hard to brush it aside. If he thought about that negativity, it would just drudge up other bad memories he didn’t want to ever think about again.
    “Mister, what are you doing here?” A little boy tugged on his shirt, pulling him from his thoughts. Nick instantly wanted to thank him for the rescue from his own mid. He was young, about seven, and sweaty from playing a hard game of stick baseball in the street.
    “Hey kid. Just taking a walk.”
    “You live around here? We’ve never seen you before.”
    “I used to.”
    A woman stepped out onto her porch and folded her arms over her chest as she watched. The last thing Nick wanted was the cops called on him, and she didn’t look amused at the fact that he was speaking with her child.
    “Randy, hon, how about you come wash up?”
    Yeah, Mom, that’s code for get your ass away from the stranger. Nick took a few steps back and nodded. “You better go do what your mom says.”
    The boy shook his head. “She ain’t my Mom, mister. That’s my aunt.”
    It reminded Nick of his past and he couldn’t help but smile. “Then go do what your aunt says.”
    Turning to walk away, he heard the boy yell back at him. “If you’re lost I can help you.”
    The kid had no idea. Lost was such a loaded word and Nick wished it was something as simple as having a kid help him with it. Pulling his bag over his back, he felt his body ache. He couldn’t