Free Johnny: #2 (Special Forces) by Madison Stevens

carve out their independence. No one thought it was worth the blood for another patch of sand and mountains.
    If other local governments didn’t care, why did Williamson care? There was some angle they were all missing.
    It just didn’t make sense. None of it did.
    Johnny scrubbed a hand over his face. This was going to continue eating at him. He was just sure of it. Someone had to get some justice for his friend and protect other good people who had been forced into hiding.
    Plus, with more weapons flowing into the area, major civil unrest was inevitable, and a lot of innocent people would suffer and die so that assholes could make a few more dollars or euros to stuff in their fat, corrupt accounts. C
    Chotastan was at a tipping point. If the country went up in flames, it’d not only harm the people there, but destabilize much of Southwest Asia.
    Johnny lay back on the bed and rubbed his temples. He was still adjusting to the new time zone. It didn’t help that he had spent most of last night hard and aching for more of Maddy.
    A small smile played on his lips. She had looked amazing when she came last night. He could only imagine what she would look like as he drove into her.
    As much as he wanted to see that, Johnny also knew that if he didn’t take his time with her, this whole thing would go to pot. He wanted Maddy, but for more than just a good time. She had to understand that. He needed to make her understand.
    He wanted to come home to her, to see her swell with their child and to grow old with. She had always been the only one for him, and despite how much he tried not to have feelings for her, she would always be the only woman he wanted that way.
    The bell downstairs rang, and he sat up.
    He shook his head and smiled. Trent always was early. Even when they were just planning to hit the town, he couldn’t stand the idea of being late.
    “Quit jacking off up there and get your lazy ass ready,” Trent shouted up the stairs at him.
    Johnny laughed. Maybe going out with the guys was exactly what he needed.

Chapter Twelve
     
     
    Maddy glanced down at her outfit: the same khaki shorts and peach tank she’d worn to take her finals that day. It wasn’t what she would normally wear to a date with David, but in the end, this wasn’t really a date per se. Given what she planned, her outfit was unimportant.
    When she saw him coming up the sidewalk outside the small Italian restaurant, she waved and smiled. The closer David moved, the more she could see he was openly frowning at her. He was wearing his usual black slacks and boring button-down white shirt.
    Self-conscious, she rubbed her arms a little.
    “I could have changed the time for later so you’d have the chance to go home and get properly dressed,” David said.
    His words sent a fire through her. She’d been listening to this kind of talk for the past couple months and had just about enough of it.
    “I’m good,” she said simply and stepped over to the door.
    He shrugged. “Well, none of the crew come to this place. So, fortunate for me.”
    Maddy sighed. It looked like tonight was going to end a lot sooner than she’d planned. Originally she planned on eating a nice dinner with David and trying to end it all on a high note. She should have known better really.
    When she first started dating him, she’d thought it’d all be okay. He was attractive, intelligent and going somewhere. She’d ignored some of his more annoying qualities, thinking that she didn’t need a perfect guy if she just wanted to have a little fun. How wrong she’d been.
    The pair stepped into the quiet, low-lit restaurant and smiled at the hostess.
    “Two?” the hostess asked.
    Maddy nodded.
    “We’ll have a table available in just a moment,” the young woman said.
    Maddy looked over to David, who seemed even more agitated than before about the lack of tables.
    “Maybe we should get a cocktail at the bar,” she said.
    He gave a curt nod and then took a seat at the