FRAGMENTS ; Simon Riley

Chapter 29.

ROSALIE.

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"..."

Today new recruits were getting welcomed inside our base, with a new sergeant that was assigned to the fresh unit. She's friendly, they said. She's very good and you two could make a good pair for missions, they said at last.

And they weren't even lying, Claire was a good fit into this environment.

She stood her grounds and boundaries, never let anyone make a fool out of her, just because she seemed docile and stupid. She wasn't. No, she was the best soldier out there.

Yet, that didn't intimidate me.

I'd catch glimpses of her training her rookies, her tone firm and harsh, calling out orders at trainings. Other than her strong character, she was mature and beautiful, a face never meant to suffer the field's hell and chaos.

I'd always say that whenever the team would talk of her, admiring her skills and persona. 

Even my own husband would say that she was a good fit for the military, unexpectedly. I didn't have any reason to be mad at him for stating such thing, not at all. Because I felt the same, and I was sure of his feelings towards me.

Simon never actually talked to her, unless he needed to confront her on reports or even trainings schedule, because both were chosen to guide the new recruits into this harsh reality. In the while, I had chosen to also work in the medical branch, occupying my only free times into studying.

It was a passion, something I was so crazy with, and Simon knew it better than anyone else.

So, while I was busy into the studies and practices, Simon went on with the military, getting assigned to brand new missions. He preferred working alone, he always made sure he was getting all the solo missions.

But as Claire was introduced into another Task Force, he was forced to collaborate with them.

"I fucking despise that unit." He muttered, fingers tapping around the glass of whiskey. Perhaps the third since he came back home. With all the papers, notes and books on the kitchen's table, the room looked like hell.

The ice clinked inside the glass as he bought it to his lips, a frown on his tired features. His face glowed beneath the kitchen's soft glow, and he looked more handsome than ever. I couldn't get more lucky than this.

"Don't be mean, I bet Claire is a good teammate." I chuckled in response, raising my gaze from the notes.

"Claire? Don't make me laugh, she's damn annoying." He rolled his eyes. His broad figure was leaning against the counter, still covered in his dark uniform, but mask discarded right on one of my books. Every night went like this, him with his bourbon, me drowning in my studies. "How so?"

"I can't stand her. Feels like she's trying so hard to look skilled and professional. Woman's freshly ranked sergeant."

"Well, I'm a fresh sergeant too, am I annoying?" I suppressed a grin.

"You're my wife."

"Shouldn't change anything, Mr Riley."

He grumbled something beneath his breath, perhaps an annoyed protest while he gulped down the last drops of his drink. "She's annoying anyways. No one beats my Missus." Simon commented, a particular warmth lacing his gruff tone, making my heart skip a beat.

Just as I was about to turn my gaze back on the notes, I felt his body looming over mine from behind, "I wouldn't ever like her. You're the one for me." He whispered in my ear, his warm breath fanning over my cold skin.

This man.. God.

With a smile, I turned my head to the side to glance at him, "What a liar, who wouldn't like her? She's so pretty and friendly. Hey, if you agree I won't get mad."

I heard him scoff, his arms wrapping around my waist before lifting me off the chair, "Not to me, I don't like her at all."