The Fleet

  “Leave her here with you, right?” Dalton asked.

  “What?” Cambria asked.

  “He's been giving you the sweet eye since we landed. Now tell me I'm wrong, Johnny boy?” Dalton asked.

  “Nope,” Johnny replied. “You're not. I've always loved Cambria. She can change the uniform she wears or the man that's hanging off of her arm. But that won't change how I feel about her. Nothing will. I care enough about her to not want her to go down there into that shit storm of bullets.”

  Johnny's words sank into Cambria's deepest of thoughts. Having no idea her ex-lover still cared for her in such a way. Complicating her own heart a bit at the worst of times.

  “I'm about to tell you something boy, so listen up and listen close,” Dalton said. Continuing to pack additional ammunition as he did so. “Having the fastest revolver hand doesn't mean a damn thing when you're scared of getting your hands dirty.”

  “Scared?” Johnny asked.

  “That's right, I said scared,” Dalton replied. “Killing a few men in the streets gun to gun is one thing. I've killed too. Each of them deserved it and it was done to protect the lives of those fighting around me, so we could protect the lives of chickenshits like you,” Dalton added. “Now I'm sure you got some wise-lipped response, but you can just keep it. Wise lips don't win freedom, it's men like me and guns like this.” Dalton said, grabbing the under pump of his shotgun and readying it with a single motion.

  For a moment, the entire group drew quiet. Explosions and gunfire in the near horizon like audio wildfire.

  “So you keep your ass up here and live in a cave if you want to. It's your life to waste. I plan on marching my ass on down there and getting into the fight. Any man that wants to stay here, do it. Fine by me. When the shit's over, I'll pull back off of this shitting rock and leave your asses high and dry,” Dalton said. “And Cambria, the same goes for you. I love you. You know I do. But living in the past and the present isn't happening with me. I see you deep in thought, so, if you want to be with me, be with me. If not, the best of luck to the both of you. Now if you'll excuse me, perfectly good soldiers are dying down there.”

  With that, Dalton began walking down a steep incline which would eventually take him to the fight.

  Meanwhile, Cambria remained stunned. Trying to search her soul and doing so as quickly as possible. Her love for Dalton was undeniable – her feelings for Johnny still there. Cambria was torn between both men, knowing only one thing. She needed to make a decision, and fast.

  Dalton James waited for no one.

  About the Author

  John M. Davis currently lives in Southwest, Virginia with his beautiful wife and two spoiled children. As a huge advocate for Minimalism, John will regularly drop off of the grid for weeks at a time. Normally making up for lost time by tweeting too much(@johndavisbooks). He has authored the Gunship series, The Fleet, the Guardian Angel series and is currently working on a handful of projects that include Zombies, the lost city of Atlantis and an exotic dancer who sees paranormal spirits. www.authorjohndavis.com