“What the fuck is he thinking? He can’t do that!” Law shouted.
Valor scratched the back of his head as he grimaced a little. If it wasn’t for Lethal still motherfucking this and that about Frenzy leaving his team all the way from their mission plan to the helicopter, Law wouldn’t have asked him to come down to his office. But Lethal did, and Law did, so now Valor was left holding the key to all the information Law was suddenly aware that he needed. He was doing his level best not to react to Law yelling, but it wasn’t easy. “Actually, Law… he can. We’re not captives. We are free males with the right to choose any damn thing we want in life as long as we’re not running around murdering people. And he’s not. He’s served us for longer than he should have, and he’s had enough. He’s chosen a different life. So, before you start yelling and tossing around words like can’t and wondering what he was thinking, he was thinking it’s time to live his life rather than continue living even a portion of the one Waller and his fucking madmen created for us. Nobody, not even you, can tell any of us what to do. And you need to watch that tone. I’m not taking to that very well.”
Law was speechless for a few seconds as he absorbed what Valor had said to him. “I, I didn’t mean it like that. I know no one is captive here. It’s just, he’s one of our best. I never thought he’d walk away.”
“He’s not walking away. He’s changing his life, choosing it this time, rather than having it chosen for him. He even mentioned he might be back to visit some time. Besides, you were one of the males questioning his sanity and control not too long ago, if I remember correctly.”
“He showed me just how good he is, and what lengths he’ll go to for his fellow male when we were on mission for my Laurel. He is one of our absolute best.”
“He is. And now he’s taking control of the other aspects that have eluded him until now.”
Law nodded as he flopped back down in his chair. He looked up at Valor, then over at Sin who sat at another desk in the same office. “You know about this?”
Sin smirked. “Not me. How would I possibly know?”
“Because you’re his best damn friend,” Law said.
Sin smiled at Law.
“You knew. Why does nobody tell me a damn thing until it’s over?!” Law asked, rhetorically.
Sin pulled out a lower drawer in his massive desk, then grabbed something out of it. He met Valor’s gaze and winked at him as he walked by Law’s desk. “Here you go,” he said as he handed a mirror to Law.
“What’s this?” Law asked.
“An answer to your question. Look in the mirror. You’re becoming a pain in the ass — too bureaucratic for your own good. You should take a look at yourself and maybe try to remember where you come from. Where we all come from. And then you’ll know why nobody tells you anything anymore.”
“Goddamn it, Sin! You need to…” Law yelled.
Sin, who was walking out of the office with Valor, turned immediately to face Law. He held a finger up. “Uhn uhh. Nope. Do not even consider telling me what I can and can’t do in any fucking tone of voice, let alone in that one,” he said, his head slightly canted, his eyes laser focused on Law, his posture sending a clear message that he was near letting go of his control. “I love you, brother. But I’m not about to start taking that shit from you or anybody else. Maybe it’s about time for you to retire, too. This shit is getting to you, making you forget who you are.”
Law stopped talking and just sat there.
“And when you’re finished with my mirror, put it back on my desk. I gotta make sure I’m pretty before I deal with all the shit I got to deal with on these damn video calls and virtual meetings and shit.”
As Sin and Valor walked out of Law’s office, Sin threw an arm over Valor’s shoulders. “Did he sound happy?”
“He sounds relieved. Did you know?”
“Not a damn bit of it. But I knew he was fighting burnout. He wants more, and in some ways, he wants less. He wants simple. And after all we’ve survived, we all deserve exactly what the fuck we want.”
“You gonna call him?” Valor asked.
“Something like that,” Sin said. “And if anybody asks, I knew. I don’t want anybody giving him any shit. They can come to me if they have a problem with it.”
“Got it.”
~~~
The sun was just beginning to break through the clouds when Rance and Dane finally pulled their vehicles up in front ofJack’s house. Stiff from hours of driving, a couple of them slowly got out and began shaking out their legs, stretching their arms, trying to get the blood flowing again. The rest took their time, trying to wake up from napping as Rance, and Dane depending on which vehicle they were in, had driven them toward home.
Jack’s front door creaked open in the morning stillness and Jack stepped out onto the porch with a cup of coffee he was sipping from. “Welcome home! Everybody alright?” he said, watching the males trying to get themselves in order.
“We’re just tired as fuck,” Tate said.
“I hear my bed calling,” Dane added.
A familiar orangey-red head of hair caught his attention as the male got out of Rance’s truck. “Thanks, Dad! We’re just peachy! And can I just say, they do not know the meaning of the word tired,” Frenzy said, as he grinned at Jack.
