Mending Hearts (The American Soldier Collection 11)

Gunner looked around him. He had a really bad feeling that this investigation was going to get worse if the body count rose. Someone knew something, and he was going to find them.

* * * *

Alana couldn’t believe the workweek had passed so quickly. It was Friday night, and she was working at Casper’s and missing her men. She was serving up some beers to several patrons when she overheard them talking about the murders of two young women. Both had been tortured and sexually assaulted then left for dead. She felt so sick to her stomach to hear about something like this happening in Salvation. Everyone was.

As the guys discussed safety measures with a few women who were standing around drinking and enjoying the night, she heard the women’s responses and their lack of concern.

“It’s not like anything like that would happen to us. We don’t hook up with guys we just met,” one said.

“What does that mean?” one guy asked.

“They found her body in the motel on Highway 10. Everyone knows that people go there for sex,” she said.

The same guy ran his hand around her waist, pulling her back, and rocked his hips back and forth against her ass.

“So you want to go there with me tonight?” he teased her.

“You wish, Donny,” she replied, and they all chuckled.

“How about you, gorgeous?” some guy said, turning to Alana. “When do you get off work? Maybe we can check out that motel on Highway 10?”

Before she could reply, Geno came up behind the guy and slapped his hand on the guy’s shoulder.

“That’s my fucking girlfriend, asshole.”

“Oh shit, Geno. I didn’t know,” Donny replied, stepping back.

“She belongs to us,” Jeb added and moved the group out of the way as Jaxon, Gator, and Gabe relocated to their spot by the bar in front of her.

Alana crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Feel better now, Geno?”

“I will as soon as you get your lips over here and kiss me, doll.” He leaned over the bar. She did the same and kissed him. Hoots and hollers started, and she quickly stepped back.

“That should do it,” Jeb said with his arms crossed in front of his chest, appearing pissed off.

“What’s wrong?” she asked him.

“When do you get off?” he snapped at her.

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked at the others. Jaxon seemed even angrier.

“It’s only eleven. I close up, remember?”

“Let’s get comfortable, men. It’s going to be a long night,” Gator stated, and they ordered some beers.

Alana poured them and felt a bit annoyed. Were they going to stay here and scare off all the patrons who flirted with her? How was she going to make any tips?

She decided to ignore them as their friends joined them and they seemed to let down their aggressive guard. Alana walked down to the end of the bar and saw the man by the corner. He waved her over, and she noticed the way he kept a hand on the bar and played with a die. He moved one in between his fingers smoothly and without even looking down. As she approached, she recognized him as that guy she’d seen at the fair. The one who she’d apparently helped in the clothing store. He smiled at her.

“So I figured out where the second place was that I saw you before. Casper’s. How are you

, Alana?”

She felt a bit uneasy that the guy knew her name and she didn’t know his. She needed a reprieve from Geno and the guys so she placed a coaster onto the bar and smiled.

“You have me at a disadvantage. You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

“Just call me Neil.” He reached out to shake her hand, and she did. He gave it a squeeze, and she felt nothing, but he held her gaze and looked her over.