Jessie nods and pulls his phone.
I step back to the wall with Havoc.
Cort turns toward me. “The K9’s are like watching Cujo. Seamus does a great job.”
I nod. “I read a report to collect players from a lab that went bad. They had old cc TV that showed how bad they went with those chips.”
He watches me then does a quick shake of his head. “The paratroopers can fight and think on their feet?”
I nod. “They’re air-assault. I trained for everything like them. I did the two missions as scout too. I shouldn’t have but they put me there and I completed the mission. So, flight, infantry, sniper, rapid response means tactical everything and anything.”
He looks interested. “You’re a Ranger.”
I nod. “I trained like Stone and his crew. I was satellite for teams like his.” It dawns on me. “Like Solaita. He left a few months after I moved to the EU base.”
“Brinks was a satellite?”
Fuck. I look at the empty deck. “Mario said you’re his family. It’s not mine, Boss.”
He nods. “Relax. Classified is not something you tell evenfamily. I know that and respect it.” He’s got truth in his eyes.
I nod and think of anything else I can say that isn’t fuckin’ with someone’s life. “Before I go anywhere, I need to see Sophia. I don’t mind it being on a screen but I need to see she’s okay.”
He pulls me over to the deck and tells it to locate my ol’ lady. I smile when I see her clean face with an orange-red dusted neck. She’s eating. I go to the window and look down. The chairs and food are at the other side but it’s the same table and chair set up my girl is in.
Two tonight or a.m. is what Jessie gave to Cort. He turns my way. “See your girl, get some food and sleep then meet back here at one-thirty.”
“Roger, Boss. I’ll stay in a room here; they have a gearbox for me.”
He smiles. “I bet Sophie has one here too. You two are more alike than different. She went up the ramp without stopping to assess it too.”
I smile and head toward the door. “That’s my girl.”
Jessie laughs following me out. “I’ll be on that chopper, too, Brother.”
I didn’t think he’d stay and watch. His son is just like him. He flew today to contribute more than a gun on a bike. I like that.
I like my girl more so I turn toward the tables and hunt her down.
Chapter Thirteen
One week
Liminal Rising
Hud
“Mmm. Déjà vu.”
I kiss her head. “No other men named in our bed, my Charlie’s Angel. I’m not on until later. Your meet at Elite is at noon.” I remind her.
She rolls onto me. “What time did you get home?”
“About three. The Mass and Prince Brothers are relentless but it paid off and we got them all. Alpha-Bits will always have a threat but the two-day roundup hit national news and the kids have it playing Internationally.”
“You haven’t slept, have you?” My girl knows me.
“No, baby. I was watching you and thinking about the answers for your giant list of questions. It’s only been weeks but our time together already shows how true those answers are and how it works when we have a plan.” I love that giggle. It’s so out of character with the determined, intense, competent soldier she is.
