Page 19 of Mariposa (Queens Command #1)
VIOLET
A s I shake the Lieutenant Colonel’s hand with that iconic green beret on top of my head, a wave of relief hits my soul. All my hard work has paid off. I’m the first woman in my family to enter military special operations.
Still shaking the Colonel’s hand, I glance at the crowd with a bright smile while people continue to clap. The stage is brightly spotlighted, in contrast to the dim lighting of the family section. I search for anyone from back home.
I look at every face, hoping that someone will show up for me. It diminishes as the seconds go by with each stranger’s face.
Sure enough, my mother isn’t here. Isabella, my older sister, isn’t here to tease me.
No one showed up for me.
A burn hits my chest, but it disappears as quickly as it came.
I don’t fall apart.
I will not.
Humming softly, I hold my breath as a storm of emotions tramples my insides.
No one came.
Something in the far corner, a massive dark aura, where the shadows are greater, catches my attention. Even in the darkness, he still manages to pull my attraction like a magnet.
Those mismatched eyes are locked straight into mine. The way we hold each other’s stare makes me feel like we’re all alone, and it’s just us two.
Still with that same stoic expression, he brings his hands together and claps for me, dipping his head once, acknowledging my existence despite trying to scare me away last night.
I glance back at the Colonel, who’s trying to ask me a question, but his voice sounds like static because the man everyone calls a legend has me entranced.
Before I answer, I blink fast—the need to sneak another glance at Beast possesses me.
I peer back to the corner where he’s standing, but he’s already gone.
Straightened hair. Red dress. Red lips. Freckles. Heels. My favorite perfume is on my neck. My cross necklace settled against my collarbone—it feels good to feel like I’m more than a soldier tonight.
I’m more nervous about socializing than graduating because I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress—it almost makes me feel silly. Still, after a year of nothing more than consistent training, I walk into the Drunken Shell, feeling like a woman rejuvenated.
Despite it being wintertime, it’s relatively humid tonight. Before I grab hold of the silver handle, a breeze hits me, causing the ends of my dress to whip around my thighs.
Pushing the black doors in, I enter the Drunken Shell—sailors, soldiers, Marines shouting and laughing everywhere. The pool tables are all occupied, the dance floor is crowded, and the bar is jam-packed. It’s a full house tonight, which is not shocking for a Friday.
As soon as the doors close behind me, regret fuels me.
I want to run back to my bedroom and spend the night alone, with a book in hand and The Office playing in the background. I’d take that over leaving my bedroom during my free time any day.
It’s too late to turn around because Booker and Kade turn toward me. I swear my cheeks heat, most likely reddening the apples of my cheeks. When I look at Kade, all I can see is his soft lips and mustache brushing against my fingers like the night of the shower.
We had a weird moment of weakness—a moment I want to keep all to myself. It stays between us, but now I know there’s an attraction that goes both ways, even if he wants to pretend it didn’t happen.
He does a double-take while lifting a glass of what I can only assume is whiskey to his lips.
Booker smiles from ear to ear and waves me over.
Kade lifts his scarred brow while looking at Booker with a questioning expression.
He scoffs, shaking his head, and even from a few feet away, I can see his jaw flex hard.
He fixes his gaze on the opposite side of the bar counter.
Who is he talking to?
“Over here, Mariposa!” My brows knit together, and I gaze around me.
Is he talking to me?
Mariposa ?
“Yes, you, Violet Isla. Get over here.” Booker shakes his head. As soon as I near, he kicks Slater off his chair. Slater throws me a glare before standing behind Kade and whoever he’s talking to.
“So why butterfly?”
“It’s your call sign.”
“Really?”
“Mhm,” he hums and takes a swig of his Shiner Bock.
“What are the rules for call signs, and may I have another?”
“No. Now stop complaining and take a shot.”
As I glare at him, he pushes two tall shot glasses my way, and I hesitate. Whenever I get drunk, I feel weightless. My dad’s lifeless body in his casket goes away, and the guilt from how he passed deteriorates.
If only I had stuck to being the quiet one. The one who never asked for anything in return. The reserved one. Why did I have to be adventurous that day?
It’s my fault he’s dead.
Yours.
It’ll always be your fault. That’s why Mom and your sister hate you. You killed him.
“Violet?” Kade’s voice cuts through my self-destructive thoughts. He’s standing behind me with that expression that could make anyone crumble.
I blink up at him, meeting his beautiful, wolf-like eyes with their out-of-this-world, vibrant, colorful, sharpened texture.
His presence calms my demons momentarily, but it’s the woman beside him who enraptures me.
She’s everything sunny and cheerful, holding onto his biceps almost possessively, like she’s claiming him and making sure I know it.
He has a girlfriend?
Her bright red manicured nails rub his tattoos up and down, and her narrowed gaze looks at me like I’m an unwelcome guest who doesn’t belong here.
Her curly blonde hair is parted down the middle and hugs her heart-shaped face.
She’s gorgeous. Of course, Kade has a beautiful woman on his arm.
I just hate the way it’s making me feel.
This man tasted me off my own fingers last night, and now, he’s on a date.
I dart my vision back to the shots.
“S-sorry, O’Connell, but as of today, you are no longer in the position of being in charge of me.” I chug the shots down one by one. The burn glides down my throat, and with a scrunching nose, my face twists. Booker pats my back and lets out a chuckle.
“Slow down,” Kade warns. “Why can’t you buy her a beer or a margarita?” he scolds Booker.
Booker parts his lips to answer, but I hush him.
“No one orders for me.” I call over to the bartender, “I’ll have another round.”