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Blurb:
Jenna West has no idea what she might have done to her new tenant Mike Hightower. He's surly and hateful every single time they meet, and he looks at her as though he despises her.
He does despise her. She's from the Middle East, and people like her killed his friend Ramirez when the army sent them to Iraq.
Will the power of love work its magic to soften Mike's bitter hatred, or will he ignore his growing attraction for his pretty landlady?
Last Week:
Prologue
The men beside him each grabbed an arm and hauled him to his feet. “Move your feet, Hightower,” Ramirez snarled.
They had gone about ten yards when gunfire opened up behind them. Ramirez screamed, and Mike felt him go down. He tripped again but managed to hang on to his gun. “Shoot, Mike! Hostiles at ten o’clock!” Mason yelled.
Mike fired, but he must not have hit anything because seconds later a hot, boring pain almost tore off his shoulder. Blindly he fired into the dark, and moments later, his leg took fire.
Shots came from the street.
The men beside him each grabbed an arm and hauled him to his feet. “Move your feet, Hightower,” Ramirez snarled.
They had gone about ten yards when gunfire opened up behind them. Ramirez screamed, and Mike felt him go down. He tripped again but managed to hang on to his gun. “Shoot, Mike! Hostiles at ten o’clock!” Mason yelled.
Mike fired, but he must not have hit anything because seconds later a hot, boring pain almost tore off his shoulder. Blindly he fired into the dark, and moments later, his leg took fire.
Shots came from the street.
This week:
Captain Perry yelled,
“Hightower, Mason, hold your fire.”
Moments later Perry knelt beside Mike. “Where are you hit?”
“Shoulder and leg.”
“Sit tight; we’ll get a medic as quick as we can.”
“What about Ramirez?”
“Sorry, he’s gone.”
As his anger built, Mike forgot about the pain in his shoulder and leg. Ramirez had been his friend. These people didn’t appreciate a thing that the United States was trying to do for them.
Moments later Perry knelt beside Mike. “Where are you hit?”
“Shoulder and leg.”
“Sit tight; we’ll get a medic as quick as we can.”
“What about Ramirez?”
“Sorry, he’s gone.”
As his anger built, Mike forgot about the pain in his shoulder and leg. Ramirez had been his friend. These people didn’t appreciate a thing that the United States was trying to do for them.
The shoulder's a bad place to get shot (not that there's any 'good' place). I hope he recovers full use of it.
ReplyDeleteYou can definitely see his hatred taking root. It’s a very personal situation!
ReplyDeleteA glimpse into the harshness of war. Well done excerpt...
ReplyDeleteLots of tension here! :D
ReplyDeleteThe horrors of war - your friends can be killed.
ReplyDeleteVery dranatic scene, his anger is palpable and very understandable!
ReplyDeleteDamn- tense snippet. And the way they tell him his friend is gone is so cold.
ReplyDeletePivotal scene for how his feelings will develop toward Jenna. Good writing, Elaine. :-)
ReplyDeleteI get where he's coming from, but at the same time, I wince at his use of "those people." Not everyone from a racial group/country/etc. is an enemy.
ReplyDelete