Townie snorted. “Kiss of death in most Blackout units. Unless you’re Alpha or Charlie. They seem exempt from the rules.”
He set the mug aside and avoided looking at those magazines Jolie left behind.
O tapped a palm on the leather back of the sofa. “We should quarantine him before he starts writing poetry.”
That earned the smallest tug at the corner of Archer’s mouth, but the team noticed immediately.
“There he is.” Rome bobbed his head. “Barely alive but present.”
Archer snorted. “Asshole.”
Townie tossed him a pretzel and Archer caught it on reflex. He bit off a chunk and chewed.
“So,” Rome went on, “how long before you break Blackout code and start sending moony-eyed texts to the civilian?”
Archer dragged a breath in through his nose. “From what I saw with my sister and Ash over at Charlie team,thisis the new code.” He slashed a glance at Cannon, but the man was as still as a statue, not adding anything to the discussion or giving anything away.
Rome barked a laugh and waved a hand for Townie to toss him a pretzel. He did, and Rome crunched into it.
Archer washed his down with a sip of coffee. “Besides, I thought you guys like bending rules.” He looked straight at Cannon.
Their CO lifted one brow. “How do you figure?”
Archer didn’t blink. “You’ve launched deployments before orders came through because you guessed they were coming.”
“Knewthey were coming. That’s called initiative.”
Rome pointed at Cannon with his pretzel. “He’s got a point, Cannon.”
Cannon’s mouth twitched despite himself. “Difference is my rule-bending is a preemptive strike to save lives.”
Townie leaned back. “The man just got back from captivity and found a woman who makes him feel alive. I’m voting for contact.”
O gave a solemn nod. “Seconded.”
Rome waved his pretzel rod. “Motion passes.”
Cannon said nothing, which in that room counted as permission.
Archer’s chest swelled. Goddamn, brotherhood was going to kill him too.
“Toss me another pretzel,” he said thickly to Townie, and they all took the request as acceptance of everything they offered him.
After the team polished off the entire bag, Archer checked the clock on his phone. Too early to call Jolie without appearing desperate. But when he checked it three minutes later, Townie groaned.
“This is painful to watch.”
“Shut up, Townie.”
“Now it’s adorable.” He flashed a bright grin that made Archer wag his head with reluctant amusement.
Another ten minutes crawled by. Archer made it to seven o’clock before he stood.
Rome saluted him with a forefinger. “Tell her we said hi.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He stepped into the hall to the sound of laughter behind him and dialed while striding to his room.
The phone rang.
