Free Framed by CP Smith

had each other’s backs on a daily basis. So Prez and D knew all about Harley. The one who got away.
    During boot camp, they’d heard all about how he’d met the perfect woman in high school. About the cheerleader he’d knocked down during a game, but had left her alone ‘cause he knew he was too wild for her. He didn’t know her name then, but he knew that he wanted to find a woman just like her when he was ready to settle down. Years later, he’d seen her at her dad’s garage when he had no time to talk to her, but he at least knew where to find her. Fast-forward two years, after a long and bloody mission, Kade had headed straight for Pensacola and a certain auto repair shop only to find out he was too late. Kade spent the next few years looking for a woman who compared, but everyone fell short.
    Mickey knew, without a doubt, to have her here now and not be able to touch her had to be eating away at Kade. So there was no way in hell he wanted to tell Kade that he had tasted those luscious lips first.
    “He’ll find out, D, he always has a way of knowing. You know this about him. If you tell him up front what happened, he might let you live,” Prez advised.
    “Jesus, Prez, what were the chances that that fine woman was his dream girl? Swear to God, between this fuck up and that Puerto Rican hottie that Campbell drooled over, it’s a wonder I haven’t been killed.”
    “You leap before you look, my friend. Always have. You should have asked why she was so pissed off before sweeping her off her feet.”
    “Maybe after meeting her he wasn’t as into her as he once was. Maybe with age and experience the pedestal he put her on isn’t as high.”
    Prez cocked his brow again and scoffed, “You met the woman, right?”
    Yeah, he’d met her and tasted those sweet lips, too.
    Christ, I’m fucked .
    “I’m dead, aren’t I?”
    “Is your will in order?” Prez chuckled, enjoying watching his brother sweat.
    D was shaking his head no, just as the door opened and Kade came into view. If anything, he looked bigger than the last time they’d seen him; as if he spent all his time strength-training. And his hair looked like he hadn’t cut it since the day he discharged. Other than that, he was still the same man they hadn’t seen in two years.
    His eyes were sharp, assessing everyone and everything as he entered the room. He didn’t see them at first so he and D stood. When their eyes met, the hard lines on Kade’s face grew even harder for a moment then relief filled his eyes.
    “Whoever this motherfucker is that put my brother in here and that look on his face, he’s a dead man. I’m gonna string him up by his entrails when I find him,” Prez growled low to D as Kade made his way towards them both.
    Kade wound around the tables never taking his eyes off his old friends. When he was close enough, Prez grabbed him by the shoulder and drew him in for a fierce hug, holding on tight.
    “Our mission was extended, my brother. It killed us we couldn’t get back here any sooner. We didn’t get any of Kyle’s messages about the trial until we hit stateside yesterday morning,” Prez mumbled as he felt Kade’s rigid body relax.
    “Jesus, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” Kade finally said. “An ugly sight, but I’m not complaining.”
    Looking between his two friends, the bitterness that had taken root and grew daily like a malignant tumor melted away.
    Only to be replaced by the urge to kill a certain giant of a man a moment later.
    “Kade, I gotta tell you somethin’,” D jumped in.
    “D, you may want to step back before you—”
    “I didn’t know who she was when I kissed her, man. Honestly, you would have done the same thing if a woman that hot got in your face. It’s just . . . Ah, hell; you know how I love the ones with piss and vinegar, Kade. I couldn’t help myself.”
    Kade narrowed his eyes at D at a loss for what the hell he was talking about. He looked at Prez for help but then it hit him