“He only looks patient because Gibson’s reading him the riot act,” Jay said.
All eyes turned to Austin and Ryan. Or Gibson.Sometimes Austin calls him G. It was hard to keep track. I knew from TV and movies that guys in sports and the military used their last names, so it shouldn’t have surprised me, but it was hard getting used to in real life.
Ryan clapped Austin on the shoulder. “You know what the difference between these guys and the CIA is?”
“What?”
“No one trained the impulse to blurt out what they’re thinking out of them,” Ryan said.
Everyone laughed. Except me.
I didn’t think any of this was funny. My world had been turned upside down, and inside out, and sideways, and any other way one could describe the mess it’d become.
“You’re one to talk,” Austin said. “How long has it been since you pissed off your chain of command?”
“If I include you, at least three hours.” Ryan laughed.
Jay laughed too before saying. “Oorah!”
“Hooah!” Ryan answered at the same time Austin said, “Hooyah!”
My knuckles turned white as my hands gripped the table in an attempt not to freak out or lose my temper. None of this was funny, but these guys were having a grand time.
“Sorry, Nina, it’s easy for us to forget that not everyone understands that military and law enforcement deal with stress with sarcasm and dark humor,” John said.
I nodded. What could I say? It wasn’t like they’d listen to me anyway.
“Let’s stay on track,” John said.
“Sorry, Nina,” Austin apologized.
After accepting his apology, I asked, “So, do you guys like each other now?” I’d had the impression that Austin and Ryan weren’t on friendly terms with the guys from SSI, despite Austin being John’s nephew.
“I’d say it’s more of a mutual respect thing,” Jay answered.
“And here I thought we’d be singing Kumbaya by week’s end,” Ryan said with a laugh before adding, “bestie.”
The other thing I noticed. They carried on half their conversations without looking up. Especially Ryan; his fingers never stopped moving while he joked with Jay.
“We had a rough start, but we understand each other now and we’re working towards a common goal,” John clarified.
Their goal revolved around me and the many mysteries now surrounding my life.
My past. My parent’s deaths. The treasure they’d supposedly left me. The people who wanted to hurt me. What happened to my foster parents?
My breath caught in my throat.
“Do you think someone might have killed my parents?” I blurted out.
Austin looked confused for a second before asking, “You mean the Novaks?”
“Yeah.” Who else had to use names instead of just saying my parents?
“No, we looked into it and there’s nothing suspicious about their deaths.”
Thank God. I’d never be able to live with myself if they’d died because of me.
When Austin placed a hand on my shoulder, I raised my eyes to his. “Nina, you know none of this is your fault, right?” he asked.
