Dear Ace,

by lylanj

Danny Walker never believed in true love. He knew when a woman was pretty, but he never met a woman who could draw his heart out with a single blink. That all changed when he met a girl shrouded in mysteries. Could he soothe her spades? Or would a certain top-secret mission interfere? Can he reach her true voice before her nickname's meaning catches up to them? FIRST STORY!

1. My lightning with thunder

Prologue

Shouting in Japanese was all that echoed in my ears. The plane I had crash-landed after saving Rafe was right behind what was left of our squadron, most of them a bit bruised and banged up but fine. Rafe, who I'd promised Evelyn to bring back home safely. Oh god, Rafe.

Dull pounding echoed in my ears as I sat there, kneeled on the floor with some kind of wooden block tied to my wrists. I felt blood trickle down my neck from something getting stuck and buried in there. The weight made my body scream in pain as I tried to grit my teeth and get to Rafe. Rafe with a gun pointed at his head is unable to make a single move. My brother and my closest friend. Our eyes locked on each other as I was hauled up by one of the Japanese patrol members. I couldn't help but show fear at the thought of dying or being captured, which was even worse. We knew that this might end with one of us dying at the very least. I think that's why he dove for the gun and shot at least three of the Japs.

The world seemed to have slowed as I saw someone aim the gun at my brother, about to shoot. My mouth went dry as I remembered the pain she, Evelyn, and I had had to go through months ago.

She was the only one I couldn't find in the midst of all this chaos.

"Rafe!" I panicked, my body moving before I could process what was happening. Two gunshots echoed through the air just as I protected my partner like he'd protected me all these years.

People say that when you're dying, you see the best moments of your life flash by in front of your eyes. Maybe that's why I saw Rafe and her. The three of us, laughed together as we sat at a dimly lit bar table, her mischievous eyes shining with true giddiness and happiness. Rafe and her bantering as I smiled and watched them good-naturedly swear at each other. Evelyn and her, talking quietly about something, sometimes teaming up to tease me and Rafe.

The first time I met her. The first time we saw the sunset of Hawaii up in the sky. The first time I kissed her. The first time I saw her beautiful face. The first time she spoke.

The first time I told her I loved her.

"DANNY!"

Two gunshots. It was all it took.