We stood in a silent stalemate for a few minutes, my heart pounding, the sound beating against my eardrums. The horrendous information I had learned about Cassie’s mom wasn’t doing the real life image justice. This woman was repugnant in its truest form. She made my skin crawl, and her demeanor ignited an adverse reaction that I wasn’t even going to waste time trying to hide. This bitch was mean, cruel, and nasty. Her time tormenting Cassie was over. I stood and walked over in her direction when there was another knock on the door. Our chief instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Chavez, and the Company Gunny, Gunnery Sergeant Bokowski, marched in, looking stern faced and on a mission. Their attire alone told me they were there on official business.

“Sergeant Cruz?” they asked, looking in my direction.

“Yes. What is this about?”

They stood, surveying the room before finally focusing their attention back to me.

“Sergeant Cruz you are suspected of fraternization. By order of First Sergeant O’Hara, we are to escort you to his office where you will receive official charges.”

A piece of me wanted to shout how much of a pussy First Sergeant O’Hara was for sending his henchmen here to do his dirty work instead of detaining me on his own. He’d had me, and he’d had every opportunity to take me in. Instead, he chose to have my Chief Instructor and Company Gunny do it for him. The thought of his utter cowardice sent anger flaring through my nostrils as I stood, feeling like I could break through walls at the moment. The two Gunnery Sergeants stood, waiting for me to make my way over to them, but I didn’t.

 I had known this day would come, but I had no idea how it would play out, and this was the last way I could have imagined—Cassie lying in a hospital bed, her piece of shit mom in the room with her, and me being escorted out. It was a bad dream come to life. The walls had finally come crashing down.

Gunny Bokowski grew tired of waiting. “Right fucking now, Cruz!”

I looked back to Cassie who had tears falling from her eyes. I hated seeing her cry, and in the past day I had seen more tears fall from those gorgeous eyes than I had cared to see in all of my lifetime. Her hurt brought me hurt, and I hated it.

My eyes swung over to the living cancer stick, sitting there, satisfaction written all over her face. I could tell that the fact that I was being led out made her happy. It was heartbreaking for her daughter, and she seemed to thrive on that shit. I took a couple of slow and methodical steps over to where Chavez and Bokowski were standing, then looked back at Cassie, sadness written all over her face. I didn’t say a word as I allowed them to reign me in, but Cassie stopped crying long enough to yell out, “Yes, Alex. It’s a yes.”

Standing enclosed between the two men, I had never felt so free. To hear those words come out of Cassie’s mouth was the key to freedom. I was floating on cloud fucking nine, and nothing else factored into my moment of happiness as I stood to lose so much, but gained so much more in return.

I mouthed I love you as I was led out of the room, feeling queasy that her mom was still there with her, but also fulfilled that I had gotten her. Cassie was all I had ever wanted from the very beginning, and if it meant losing everything to gain her, it was the sacrifice that I was willing to make.

I walked out of the hospital, looking like a criminal as curious eyes glued onto me as I stood encased between two stern faced, uniformed gunnies. But the accusations, the punishments—none of it was enough to take away what I had just won. Cassie Bennett was the ultimate prize, and the love she gave me was worth more than anything else. My temporary punishment was no match for my lifelong gain.

As I was led into the back of the duty car, a satisfied grin creeped across my face.

Like Cassie’s butterfly, in every way that mattered, I was finally free. 

Glossary

A-duty: assistant to the Duty NCO 

Barracks Whore: female who sleeps around with males in the barracks 

Blouse: long sleeve top to the cammies, covering the green t-shirt 

Boot Bands: elastic bands used to keep the pant legs tight around the boot. 

Bootcamp: training to transform civilians into Marines. Performed at Parris Island, South Carolina and San Diego. 

Boot Marines: military slang term for a new Marine 

Brig: military prison 

Buddy Program: going through entry level training with a friend/buddy  

Cammies: camouflage utility uniform 

Chevrons: symbols of enlisted ranks above private 

Chief Instructor: head instructor in charge of all instructors, insuring proper training to students. 

Chow: food 

Commanding Officer (CO): in charge of the entire unit 

Company Gunny: Gunnery Sergeant in charge of everyday operations for the unit. 

Company Honorman: top graduate out of bootcamp 

Court Martial: a judicial proceeding 

Cover: headgear 

Devil Dog: nickname for a Marine 

Dog Tags: the informal name for the identification tags worn by military members. 

Duty NCO- Non Commissioned Officer responsible for patrol and security of a specified area (Corporal or Sergeant) 

Field Day: detailed and thorough cleaning of an area 

Firewatch: acting as a patrolling security guard 

Groupie: usually a female who actively seeks out military members 

Gunny: nickname for Gunnery Sergeant 

Headgear: hats, helmets, caps, etc… 

Knife hand: fingers extended and joined with the thumb along the side of the hand. Used to point at someone or something. 

MCT: Marine Combat Training (skills training for non-infantry Marines)

MOS: Military Occupational Specialty (job classification) 

NJP: Non-Judicial Punishment 

Oorah: spirited cry used to respond to a verbal greeting or show great enthusiasm. 

PCS: Permanent Change of Station (transfer to another base) 

PFT: Physical Fitness Test (semi-annual test measuring strength, agility, and endurance.) 

PT gear: Physical Training gear (green workout clothing) 

Seabag: duffel bag used to carry one’s personal belongings 

Service Charlies: consists of green trousers and short sleeved, khaki shirt 

Seven Ton: a large military truck 

TAD: Temporary Assigned Duty (temporarily detached from home unit for a short amount of time) 

Tag Chasers: see groupie 

UA- Unexcused Absence 

Walking Mattress: derogatory term used to describe females who sleep around 

Wall Locker: closet style storage area

Stay Tuned for….

Compromising

The exciting conclusion to Alex and Cassie’s story! 

Acknowledgements

As always, I have a whole host of people to thank.

I want to thank my wonderfully, supportive husband, who provided his expertise on the Marine Corps to help make this book possible. Thank you for your service, for your support, and for your love. I found my “ALEX” when I married you, babe!

I want to thank Leeann, for your undying love and support of my work, and everything you have done to help get my name out there. You rock. Someday I’ll be in GA so we can meet. J

Steph, Michlene, and KaTonya…what the hell would I do without you girls? You were all excellent beta readers and I appreciated every tweak you had me make. Even when I got crazy and neurotic, you stood there, tapping those fingers, waiting for me to calm the hell down. Thanks for the lifelong friendship as well as your love and time.