Read Hero by Night for Free Online Page B

ex, he’d try to write her a check or offer alimony payments again. She needed the cash, but her foolish pride stood in the way. She’d pushed a decent man away, ending their marriage because she’d succumbed to post-­traumatic stress. Yes, he’d been impatient. But a year was a long time to wait. And he’d already put in the time while she served her country. He’d thought the waiting was over when she left after fulfilling her five-­year commitment to the army. She had too. And then she’d fallen apart. That was on her. Malcolm didn’t owe her anything.
    â€œYeah, you’re kind of in the middle of nowhere,” he said.
    â€œIt’s not that far from Portland,” she said, falling into her defensive habits. “You found your way here.”
    â€œI guess not.” He looked past her to the mountain peaks in the distance. “Nice views.”
    She crossed her arms in front of her chest. Hero moved closer, keeping his canine eyes focused on her ex. “What are you doing here, Malcolm?”
    â€œThis came for you.” He stepped forward, holding out a large manila envelope. “You’re being awarded a Silver Star.”
    â€œWhat?” Shocked, she took the envelope. “For what?”
    â€œI didn’t read it. A woman from the army called the house and told me. She said the vice-­president is coming to an Oregon base next month to present the medal to you. Just you. When this came, well, I thought you would want it so I drove down, asked around town, and found you.”
    â€œThank you.” She stared down at the sealed envelope. A Silver Star. The army’s third highest honor, and rarely given to a woman. Why had they picked her? The memory descended swift and fierce.
    Gunfire. Men, and some women, but mostly men screaming. The noise was deafening. She’d raced to the front lines carrying important information before, but she’d never seen anything like this. These soldiers were dying. Unless someone carried them to safety. . .
    â€œLena, someone is coming this way.” She could tell from his gentle tone that Malcolm was trying to warn her. “From the house,” he added.
    She glanced over her shoulder and spotted Chad, striding toward them. He moved with purpose, but his expression remained calm and easygoing.
    â€œHey Lena,” he said, stopping at her side, offering her a smile. “Heard you hiked up to the falls today. Nice right?”
    â€œBeautiful,” she murmured, her mind shifting to the present, the peace and quiet of Independence Falls, and the reassuring tone of Chad’s voice.
    â€œThat’s one of my favorite places,” Chad said. “Now how about introducing me to your friend?”
    Her hand went to Hero’s fur as she made the introductions, her gaze moving back and forth between her ex and the man she’d threatened to shoot for climbing into bed with her last night.
    â€œI drove down to give Lena her mail,” Malcolm explained. “But I should probably hit the road. I need to get back to Portland and set up for poker. Remember our weekly games, Lena? With the crew?”
    â€œI remember,” she said. It had been years since she’d played, but she recalled the ­people who’d been her friends when she first moved to Portland, before she deployed—­before her marriage dissolved.
    Malcolm moved toward her and she stiffened. Hero stepped forward, ready and willing to create space for her. But her hand reached out and took hold of Chad.
    And then she could breathe again. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until the anxiety slipped away. Chad didn’t move a muscle. He simply let her hold his hand as if it were a normal, everyday thing, and not a miracle in her war-­torn world.
    Malcolm’s gaze dropped to their joined hands. And he knew. She could see it in his eyes. Her ex knew that the man standing