Rafe (Wounded Sons #4) - Leah Sharelle Page 0,1

slip by to the keeper, but not today.

“You aren’t coming to see me off to basic training? For fuck’s sake, Angie, I will be gone for eleven weeks.”

“Exactly, Rafe, you are leaving me after only three weeks of marriage,” Angie yelled at me, jumping out of bed, flinging her hands at me.

“Angie, we talked about this for over a year. You knew this was what I wanted to do with my life, you agreed that it was the best choice for us financially.”

“I agreed because Daddy said it was most likely just a phase. He said you would change your mind, but you didn’t, Rafe. Now I have to stay here in this dump all by myself while you go play at being a soldier.” Angie paced angrily over to the window and yanked back the sheer curtain. “Can you honestly see me living here, Rafe? Do you even know me at all?”

Standing there in our room, I watched my new bride of three weeks turn into a crazy person. A crazy rude person.

“Um, right now? No, I don’t,” I admitted quietly, honestly.

“Well, isn’t that just peachy, Jesus Christ, Rafe? You were offered a good job with Dad’s golfing buddy. Why you think selling insurance is not a good stepping stone to earning a good living is beyond me.” The minute she finished her rant, Angie slapped her hand over her mouth and stared wide-eyed at me. She knew about the job offer? How? When I didn’t even tell her.

“How did you know about that offer? I don’t recall telling you about it,” I asked, taking three steps towards her.

“Oh please, Daddy told me. He said that you turned Malcolm down without even consulting me, Rafe. Me! Your wife!”

“Angela, it has always been a career in the army that I wanted. You know that we got married with you fully aware that I was going to join up, and do basic training before going straight into selection training.”

“And then what, Rafe? I follow you all over the country and live in apartment buildings and hang out with military wives. Shooting people for a living is not something I want people to know about you.”

“But selling insurance is okay?”

“For now, yes. Daddy has a lot of pull, all you have to do is toe the line for a year; then, he will make sure you climb the corporate ladder. And with that will come the better house, cars and credit cards.” Angie sauntered towards me, the crazy person mask gone replaced with that of a sexy temptress. Sliding her hands up my chest, she rested them on my pecs, her lip pulled between her teeth.

“Don’t you want the best for me baby, want me to have all that I deserve?” Angie pouted giving me doe eyes that up until ten minutes ago I found alluring.

“Yes, Angie, that is why I joined the army, to give us a good life. One that isn’t dictated by your father or his money.” Shaking my head, I took two deep breaths and wrapped my arms around my wife. Fighting with her never ended well, I always gave in and let her win. I loved Angie, I did. Yes, she was spoilt, but she was also fun and outgoing. For a guy that lived his whole life on the wrong side of town, having a rich, beautiful girl want to go out with you … well, it was a real ego boost.

“I want the money Rafe, not a husband who is barely here.” And there it was.

Money. Always money.

“Then I don’t know what to tell you, Angie, because I am going. I will leave the decision of what you want to do in your hands.” Gently untangling her hands from my shirt, I firmly put them down by her sides.

“I love you, Angie, I wouldn’t have married you if I didn’t. But you agreed with me, or was that just all pretend? I don’t want a divorce, but I am not staying here to work in insurance. I want to be proud of the mark I make in this world, I want you to be proud of me, and serving my country will do that.” Leaning down, I kissed her soft lips, lingering to inhale her sweet scent. Putting it to memory just in case.

“It is up to you, Angie, think about what you want. If you want me, then let me know in eleven weeks.”

With one last chaste kiss, I turned and walked out of