Knight In Shinning Camo BK1

Chapter 15: Benjamin

I was cleaning up the blocks as Rachael rambled on about getting a text from Mitchell that he is finished grading papers and wants to take her out for dinner. Once finished, I sit in the chair. "You knew Kevin would be her boss didn't you" I ask. She looks shocked at the subject change but if changes to a smirk. "Rachael. Stop playing games" I run my hand through my hair. "Oh brother of course I do. I didn't push her to apply for that reason though, it was just a bonus. Honestly the benefits and her experiencing life is what had me encourage her" she says with a smile. I shake my head and grumble, "You know Kevin doesn't like me." She laughs, "I know, but he can't be mean to her just for that reason. Plus its not like your her 'boyfriend'" she extends the word boyfriend. "Rachael" I grit out. "What has got your panties in a bunch? She has a job and she seems to really like it. Let her live. Yes she works for Kevin Lakes but he treats his employees great" she says as she stands up. "I got to go. Ill go say by to Jessica and Nala and be on my way." I stand up and give her a hug, "Please no more meddling." She kisses my cheek, "no promises big brother." With that she laughs and leaves the room. I plop back into the couch. 

When I pulled up seeing Rachael sitting on the bench next to non other then Kevin Lakes, my blood boiled. Especially when he grabbed her wrist when she went to walk to the car. I saw red and wanted so badly to get out of the car and beat him into a bloody pulp. When he whispered into her ear, I say her stiffen. What could he have said? I wanted to know. No, I needed to know. It would bother me to no end.

"Ben!" I hear Jessica call my name. I head into the kitchen not seeing them, head into the dinning room. I sit in my chair across from Jessica. Nala is sitting next to Jessica in her high chair, already digging into the spaghetti and meat balls.

After a minute of eating in silence, I ask," How was your first day?" She looks up from her plate and swallows what she had in her mouth. "It went great. Beth says I'm getting a hang on things fast" she says. I nod, "thats great." She nods, "Ben are you mad about Kevin?" I drop my fork in surprise of hearing her call him Kevin. He is her boss, why would she call him Kevin. It should be Mr. Lakes. "Kevin. I though you would be calling him Mr. Lakes" I say then clench my jaw in anger. Jessica seems to ignore the fact that her words angered me. "Yeah, Kevin. Beth calls him by Kevin. She says he prefers his secretary to call him by his name unless its in front of clients" she explains and then begins eating again. I huff in irritation. 

Dinner is finished in silence. As Jessica cleans up a messy Nala, I take all the dishes to the sink. "I'll do the dishes" I tell her when she walks in with Nala. She nods, "I am going to take Nala up for a bath." She walks out the kitchen with Nala on he hip without another word. I chuck the last plate in the sink in anger. I knew she would be working for Kevin so why am I so pissed.  I take a few deep breaths. I need to get out of the house.

I write a note stating that I do the dishes when I get back and I'll be out for a few hours. Once I make it my truck, I call Jacob. As soon as he answer I say, "I need a drink."

"Ahh no hello?" Jacob shoots back.

"I'm heading to the bar. Be there or don't" I snap and hang up.

I start the car and head to the bar that me and the boys always go to. I make it there within ten minutes. I see Grant already there smoking as he leans against his motorcycle. I walk over to him. Without a word he stomps out his cigarette and we head inside. Once inside we make our way to the bar and sit. "Two shots" Grant says. Within seconds two shots are placed in front of us. Without hesitation I down the shot as does Grant. "Didn't even wait for the rest before you down the shots" Trey says as he sits down beside me. "Five shots" Trey tells the bartender. "Whiskey on the rocks" I add. "I never understood how you could drink the whiskey straight" I hear Matt says as he sits down alongside try. Brandon joins also, but doesn't comment. Jacob walks and sits besides Grant, but I catch the smirk on his lips.  I roll my eyes at him and look away.

This is how our unit was. When ever one of us was down and needed to drink, we made our way into the bar to keep the other company. Once the glass was placed in front of me I took a long drink as the ones who just showed up took their shot. 

Matt was the only one that was off tonight besides me. "Matt?" He looks up and I tell her is exhausted. "Whats going on? Sister" I ask pushing my reasons aside to deal with those of my unit. He nods, "She got drank so much she had to get her stomach pumped early this morning at the hospital. She could've died at nineteen. They said there were no drugs in her system, but I don't believe it" he said, repeatedly running his hand through is hair.

"Is there signs she is doing drugs" Jacob asks. He nods, "When we got back I went to visit her that night. She was dressed like a prostitute and reeked of weed. She was getting ready to leave for a party. When she saw me, she freaked and broke down. She kept making excuses. This morning at 2am I got a call saying she passed out a party around 9pm and still hasn't moved. When I got to the hospital she only had one friend there and was very hesitate to tell me anything. She told me that I needed to get her help. Belle is only getting worse" he says and then orders a rum and coke. Wow. "What is your plan" Trey asks. "I guess get her clean. No more alcohol. We only have about a month before we are back to be deployed" Matt says in frustration. "We can put in the form to get you an extension" I bring it up. "No" he says firmly. "She needs to want to stop. Right now, I don't think she wants to
 he says with a sigh. Grant huffs, "how could she not want it. She almost died!" We all glare at Grant, not caring for his choice of words, but he just shrugs. 

"Enough about Belle. You were the one who called it" Matt says gladly willing to change the subject. "Kevin Lakes" I grumble. The all look surprised at me bringing him up. "Jessica is now his secretary" I add. There facial expression all change to being pissed. For the short time we have known Jessica and Nala, we have become very protective over them. "I thought Rachael was the one helping her do the applications" Trey says. I nod, "yeah, but she doesn't see anything wrong with it. She things its a great opportunity for Jessica to live a normal life." 

"That shit! Does he know she knows you" Jacob asks. I nod, "he saw me pick her up today. He wasn't to happy. I pulled up and she was waiting for me, but Kevin was with her."

"I don't understand why he was all mad. It was her choice to leave her and try to go to you" Grant says. "He didn't want to blame her, just him" Matt added. I huff, "I can't believe he is an issue now. I thought this was going to stay in the past" I sigh. "Jessica does she seem to like Mr. Lake" Matt asks. I low growl comes from my lips and a smirk spreads on Matt's face along with the others. "She calls him Kevin" I grit out. "Hmm. You don't like it?" Jacob says still smirking. I glare at him, "No, but she defended the reason as he likes his secretary calling him Kevin unless there are clients present!" They all keep quiet in thought.

Kevin and I were best friends through out high school, but when I went straight into the military after high school we grew apart. Now he is a business tycoon and I am still in the military. We were good acquaintances when I came back in town from missions, but once his ex girlfriend tried to use me as her escape. We haven't been able to stand each other. He tried to tell police I was smuggling. He came up with some great stuff, but the guys he hired to make the details happen failed. Sadly he did a good job of clean yup so they didn't have any proof he was involved. Rachael had only know about the girlfriend stuff, never about me being framed by him.

"I think he is planning something" I mumble. "If he is we will be ready" Grant says and the other boys nod.