Free LEIF (Blake Security Book 3) by Celina McKane Page B

patience and said, “I was joking. I don’t like them, but it’s my job.”
    She came close to me as I was buttoning up my jacket and ran her hand across my smoothly shaved face. She reeked, and it made my stomach turn. “You look so young when you shave.” She had a lustful gleam in her eyes. I’m not sure why a thirty-five almost thirty-six-year-old woman would be excited about a man who looked like a boy, but Chloe was different like that. She ran her hand down the other side of my face and said, “You look so sexy, baby. Call in sick…”
    “No.” I brushed her off of me and picked up my hat. “Grown-ups go to work, Chloe.”
    She made her pouty face, as I pulled on my white gloves. I liked wearing gloves, it made my hands look halfway normal.  “Oh Leif, all work and no play makes you so dull.” She flopped back down on the bed. I had a vision of her still being there when I got back, and suddenly I couldn’t stand the thought any longer.
    “Chloe, you need to find somewhere else to live.” 
    She sat up and looked at me with a furrowed brow. “What?”
    “I can’t do this anymore. You don’t have be out today…but soon, okay?”
    “What money do you suggest that I should I do this with?” She crossed her arms, pissed. I almost told her that she was an adult and where she got her money was not my problem, but I had a hard time being that mean.
    Instead I said, “I’ll give you the money to move…but then you’ll need to get a job and sustain it. I can’t keep giving you money.”
    She pouted again. “Leif…” She tried to stand up but weaved over to one side and fell back onto the bed. I just turned and left the room. I really couldn’t stand the sight of her any longer.
    *******
    I met up with the rest of the guard just inside the gates of the base, and we all rode over to the church together in the transport van. This family had requested us to be at the church as well at the gravesite. The lady they were burying today was named Donna Bartlett. It’s probably weird, but I always like to find out at least the deceased name and something interesting about them. I feel like it’s easier to pay an honest respect if you felt like you at least knew them a little bit.
    This lady was a sergeant major when she retired from the army. She’d spent over twenty years in, and she’d done six tours as a communications expert during the Gulf War. By that time, she was already in her fifties, so I had a huge respect for that alone. Her rank was also high and deserving of respect. I found out that her husband was also in the army. He retired about the same time she did as a command sergeant major. They were both on the city council at the time of his death. I couldn’t help but think that they both left a significant imprint on the world—at least before they went. It was less than I’d be able to say about myself if I went today. 
    When we got to the church, we lined up on either side of the steps that led up to the big oak doors. The funeral service was scheduled to begin at nine that morning. At eight forty-five, the master sergeant called us into formation. Three of us stood along one side of the entrance, and the other three of us stood directly across from those three. We were to stand at attention as the mourners arrived, and then we would act as honorary pallbearers for the casket. This was a Catholic funeral, so the flag the coffin was draped in now would have to be changed as it went into the church and then put back on as it was carried out. Unlike the jobs I’d had previously in the army, this one was not about labor or killing or being a hero. This one was all about respect. 
    I stood at attention and focused my eyes straight ahead. While I stood there, I thought about the situation with Chloe. I was a little bit afraid that she’d refuse to move out and I had to find the resolve to not give in to her. All I really had to do was call my command and they’d send the MPs to remove