Eye for an Eye: The McAlister Chronicles Book 1, #1

By Joseph Gage

It's not about revenge. It's about justice…

 

After he was shot in Iraq, his wife convinced him it was time to retire. Mac came home from his final deployment with a plan. He was finally going to take it easy and enjoy time with his family. His wife was excited to have him home, and they talked about their plans for retirement, but all their plans came to a halt one fateful day. Mac sat in a doctor's office listening to the word cancer play over and over in his mind, and just a few short months later, he was burying his wife. 

 

He barely had time to even begin to recover when he got the call that his daughter Anna had been found on the roadside near dead. She had been savagely attacked and life-flighted to a hospital in Norfolk. Mac's world started to unravel. He sat next to his daughter in the ICU and watched her fight for her life. Mac had lost his wife to cancer. He was not going to lose his baby girl too. 

 

The police don't seem to be doing their job, leaving Mac no choice but to seek justice the old-fashioned way...an eye for an eye.

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Gage
• Release date: May 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201953614

Joseph Gage

Born and raised in the piney woods of East Texas, Joseph has been in love with books from an early age. He has turned that love for reading into a passion for writing. When he isn’t writing, you can find him with a paintbrush in his hand. "I always loved the storytellers. Louis L'Amour, Stephen King, Jean Auel just to name a few. I hope to carry on in their tradition." Joseph

Book preview

Chapter 1

Anna was humming while she hung the streamers across the living room. She had decorated the island bar separating the kitchen from the dining room with a huge sign that read Welcome Home Dad! in big bold letters. There were streamers hanging across both the dining and living room, and Vicky had baked a cake for Mac that sat cooling on the counter in the kitchen. The last streamer finally in place, she stood back and surveyed her work. She heard her mother calling her from the living room. Looking around, she thought it looked perfect. When she heard her mom call again, she turned and headed into the living room.

Vicky was standing by the door holding her jacket, one foot tapping impatiently. When she saw Anna, she shook the jacket at her and said, We need to hurry. Your dad's plane is supposed to land in an hour, and we are going to have to fight traffic to get there.

Anna smiled at her mom, knowing they had both waited a long time for this day.  Sensing her mom's urgency, she hurried across the living room and slipped into the jacket as they headed out the door. Anna shrugged her shoulders to settle the jacket and looked up, noting the dark clouds gathering in the distance. It looked like it was going to rain. Vicky was opening the car door when she began to cough violently. She pulled a handkerchief from her purse and covered her mouth. Anna looked over at her mother with concern. Just as she moved in Vicky’s direction the coughing fit seemed to subside and Anna asked her mom if she was ok.

Vicky wiped her mouth and, laughing, nervously answered I'm fine, dear, just a little cough. You know I always catch a cold right here at the beginning of fall. 

Anna nodded and they both climbed in the car. Anna knew better than to keep on about it. She came by her stubbornness honestly. She was worried about her mom, though. She thought she had seen something red on the handkerchief her mom used to wipe her mouth.

Vicky looked over at her daughter and noticed the worry on her face. She said, "I'm ok, Anna. Now, let’s go get your dad." She pulled the dark-blue sedan out of the driveway and they headed toward Virginia Beach. Mac was flying in on a flight landing at NAS Oceana, and they were picking him up there. The drive to the base went smoothly, most of the afternoon traffic heading toward Norfolk on the 44 Expressway. The sky was the same color as the huge ships out in the harbor in Norfolk, and while it threatened rain, it remained overcast but only sprinkled a couple of times during the drive.

The shore patrol guard standing at the gate had been stationed at NAB Little Creek, the amphibious base Mac was stationed at a few years ago, and knew Vicky. His dark skin was contrasted by his gleaming white teeth, which were perfectly straight. He beamed a smile when they pulled up and said, Hey, Vicky. I heard Mac's coming in today. You tell him Jim said hi.

Vicky smiled up at the Petty Officer and waved at him, saying Hey, Jim, good to see you. I thought you were headed to Japan when your orders were up? Jim smiled back and said Well, we had a change of plans. I'm finishing out this tour here and then I'm retiring. My wife has had enough of Navy life.

She laughed and with a nod replied You don't look too upset about it. I bet she didn't have to talk much to convince you. Jim grinned and nodded at her. Vicky smiled back at him and said I'll tell Mac you said hi. If you two are ever around Williamsburg, you should drop in. Mac is planning on actually using the grill in the back yard for once.

As she put the car in gear a fighter jet flew overhead so low it rattled the windows on the guard shack. Anna watched with her head out of the window as the jet flew overhead. Maybe that's the jet dad's in. Anna shouted in the window to her mother. She didn't see as Vicky wiped the handkerchief across her nose, quickly covering the blood that she had wiped away.

Vicky felt like a blinding white-hot light was searing the inside of her skull. By the time Anna had pulled her head in the window Vicky had cleaned her nose off and set her face in a smile to hide the pain. She felt like she was having a lot more headaches lately, and it worried her, but she was too stubborn to go to the doctor. Something had to give though.

She pulled up outside hanger 500 and parked in a spot labeled Guest, that was right next to the spot labeled Executive Officer. Mac and Executive officer William Phoenix Bartlett had been good friends since boot camp. He was flying the jet Mac was flying in on.

Anna looked out the window at the dark-blue SUV parked next to them and noticed a woman with platinum-blonde hair beaming a smile at her and waving. She rolled down the window and the woman's voice came out a drawl, her Virginia accent apparent as she said Anna, you look more like your mama every day. I heard you were going to William and Mary in the fall. I bet you're excited. 

Anna smiled and looked over at her mom, saying "Mom, look, it's Aunt Patricia. In a flash, she turned back to the woman and said, I heard you got a boob job."

Vicky turned red and Patricia started laughing. She sat up a little straighter in the car and showed off her ample cleavage, saying Damn right, I did. Worth every cent, too.

Anna joined her laughing and her mother glared at her. She leaned over Anna and said Patty, can you believe it? Mac is retiring!

Just as Patty was about to respond the hangar door opened and Mac came walking out followed by Lt. Bartlett. They were both carrying seabags, and Mac headed toward the back of the car to load his.  Anna jumped out of the car and ran to her dad. Mac gathered her up in a hug and watched as Vicky slid out of the driver’s seat. When she made it over to them Mac haphazardly gathered her into the hug using his unbandaged arm. Anna stood back and let Vicky hug him. Vicky wrapped both of her arms around him fiercely and he could feel hot tears through his t-shirt where she had her cheek leaning against his chest.

Suddenly, she sprang back and shouted in Mac's face You scared me to death, Nathan McAlister! Don't you ever do that again! The surprise only lasted a moment before they were all laughing at her heartfelt outburst.

Leaning back, he said Pop the trunk, honey. I'm ready to be home. Anna offered to help him with his bag, but Mac grabbed it in his good hand and put it in the trunk one-handed. He grinned over at Anna as he pushed the trunk lid shut and said I'm not dead! I can still pick up a bag. He chuckled and said, Now, are we ready to go? Let's get home. I want to hear about school, Anna. 

Vicky looked up at Mac and said, You are really retired, Mac? You're home for good?

Mac smiled and answered, Well, there's some more paperwork that has to go through before I'm officially retired but yes, I'm home...for good.

Lt. Bartlett and his wife honked and waved as they drove out of the lot; Vicky waved again in their direction. She turned back and noticed that Mac was wincing from Anna's hug.

Careful, dear, your dad acts tough but he's still healing.

Anna had her dad in a bear hug and hadn't let go since he had closed the trunk lid. She loosened her grip on her dad and chuckled, looking up at him. Sorry dad. I'm glad you’re ok. Mom and I have worried ourselves sick.

Mac felt pangs of guilt. He never wanted them to feel that way again. He was home. It was time to be the husband Vicky deserved. Anna was eighteen and he felt like he barely knew her. He hugged them both close and they stood there together. In his mind, Mac was making himself a promise. Never again. Never again would they have to worry that he wouldn't make it home.

Vicky leaned her head on Mac's chest as a spasm of pain shot through the front of her skull. She closed her eyes and fought to keep her expression calm as the spasm took her breath for a moment. She focused on Mac, thinking about how she loved him so much, even more now than when they had first met. In only a moment the pain subsided, and she turned to look up at Mac with a smile. She said, Let's get you home. We can stop for dinner on the way. Vicky turned and moved around the car to climb in behind the wheel. Mac, unaware of Vicky’s pain, climbed in the passenger side and Anna climbed in the back. Vicky pulled the car out onto the road, and when they were headed toward the gate leaving the base, she told Mac about Jim. Mac smiled and told her to stop when they got to the gate but the guard there said Jim had just finished his watch and headed home. They thanked the young man and Vicky pulled out into the late afternoon traffic on Oceana Boulevard.

Mac spent most of the ride talking to Anna about the classes she was going to take in the fall. Vicky listened to them talk and tried to ignore the pain lancing through her head. If the headaches kept up like this she was going to have to go to the doctor, and she hated doctors. When they pulled into the driveway of their two-story house on the outskirts of Williamsburg, she breathed a sigh of relief. Anna retrieved Mac's drab-green seabag from the trunk and carried it in the house. Mac took Vicky's hand and they walked down the driveway together in silence. When they reached the end of the sidewalk there at the front door Mac pulled his wife into his arms and whispered in her ear, I'm really home, baby. I love you.

Vicky sighed and looked up into his eyes. She smiled her quirky smile and said I love you, too, Mac. Damn it, I do. A lot. She then proceeded to pout her lips out at him.

Mac smiled down at his wife. She had always been able to bring him out of even his worst moods. She had such an effect on him. He laughed and pulled her close for a lingering kiss. When they heard Anna shouting from inside, they reluctantly pulled back and both headed into the house with Anna's shout echoing from the doorway. DAD, where do you want me to put your bag? It's HEA-V-Y!

Chapter 2

Two Months Later

Mac pulled his truck up in front of the house, swinging it wide, so it was ready to be backed down the driveway. Vicky had convinced him to add on to the shed in the backyard and turn it into a workshop, so he'd spent most of the morning at the hardware store picking up supplies. The bed of his truck was loaded with lumber.

He put the truck in reverse and began backing down the driveway, finally stopping near the storage shed. The smell of the wood led him to recall memories of days working with father who'd been a master carpenter. He'd been amazed at how they could take a piece of wood and turn it into a beautiful jewelry box or a wooden chest.

Once the lumber was stacked on the sawhorses he'd set up before leaving for the store, Mac took a few minutes to re-measure the area he'd marked off for the addition of a woodworking shop with an indoor wood rack.

Mac had just finished the measurements when Vicky stepped out of the back door and headed his way. She moved gracefully through the yard weaving in between flower beds as she walked over to where Mac knelt beside his toolbox. She smiled at Mac. Come and have lunch and then you can finish this. I made chicken salad.

Mac stood from where he had been stooped down and brushed off the knees of his jeans. He turned to his wife and said, Sounds good, dear. Let’s go inside. He took her by the hand, and they headed toward the sliding glass door leading into the kitchen. They had almost made it inside when Mac pulled Vicky close and kissed her neck from behind.

She stopped and arched her back against his stomach, feeling his hard manhood pressing against her. Mac kissed and nibbled his wife's ear and she groaned as he kissed her neck. She moaned, Oh, Mac. Baby, I've missed you so much. She pushed even harder against his now raging manhood and raked her nails into his arms where she had grabbed him. She purred even more insistently into his ear, saying Anna won't be home for hours, babe.

They made it as far as the couch in the living room before falling together in a heap, their clothes flying in every direction. Vicky almost ripped Mac's shirt off and before they knew it, they were laying together on the couch. They had fallen into a hypnotic rhythm as Mac thrust over and over, Vicky's arms slung around his neck and her eyes closed in rapture. Mac felt the waves overtake him as he watched Vicky's eyes shut, his own orgasm overpowering him.

Giggling, they grabbed their clothes and ran to the bedroom. Mac followed his wife down the hall watching the perfect shape of her ass as she wiggled into their room in front of him. Anna was spending the afternoon at the library working on her research paper, so Mac spent the afternoon reminding Vicky how much he had missed her. They were cuddled in their bed and Vicky was laying contentedly with her head on Mac's chest when her head was split in two by a white-hot pain. The intensity made her cry out and