Page 45 of The Sound of Him

Maison nods slowly before looking at Travis. “He’s good. You’ll be fine with him.”

Travis shifts, rubbing a hand at the back of his neck, but he doesn’t argue.

“I can print out his file for you to look at on your flight, Trav.” It’s a file full of half-truths, of course, but he’ll never know that. Keaton’s skills and experience is all that matters. The details don’t have to be the truth. “He’s a great sniper, if you need cover, but he’s good at just about anything. Semi-retired, but not enough to be rusty.”

“Sure, yeah. I trust you.” He eyes Maison. “Both of you.”

Maison’s jaw ticks. He’s still only looking at me. “Send him out as soon as possible. We don’t want the fucker slipping away again.”

I can’t help the way my eyes flick to Jake, the two of us exchanging the kind of look that can only be shared by two people stuck in the middle of an extremely awkward situation. Sort of a ‘kill me now’ and ‘no you kill me’ exchange.

“Well, I-” I do some mental math. “I can have the materials you need printed and ready to go in 20, if you want to go pack up.”

“No need to say goodbyes,” Maison adds. His tone makes it an order, not a suggestion or a request. “No reason to wake anyone up. You’ll be back in no time.”

Jake and I exchange another look. This time he’s the one to speak up. “I’m sure there’s time for him to say a quick goodbye, man…”

“He’s sleeping,” Maison growls. “Leave him alone.”

We don’t have to ask who thehimis.

I turn to stare at my computer screen, wondering if this is what it’d be like to be a kid with fighting parents.Am I now a child of divorce?I don’t like it.

Maybe Jake and I shouldParent Trapthem or something when Travis gets back.

Or stick Adam on them.

Then again, that’d require me to talk to Adam, which I’m definitely still avoiding. I nearly slammed face-first into the wall earlier pulling a 180 when I realized he was in the room I was about to enter. I don’t know why he’s still letting me get away with this shit, but I’ll milk it as long as I can.

I must miss a look or something said too quietly because the next thing I know, Maison’s saying, “You know what? It’s not like you listen to me anyway. Do whatever the fuck you want, Travis.”

Travis sounds heartbroken when he says, “Maison…”

I hear the office door open, but it doesn’t close. Not for a few seconds. Not until Maison takes a deep breath and says, much softer, “Be safe.”

It’s like a trainwreck. My eyes disobey, moving over to Travis, wanting to see. He swallows hard before nodding. “Yeah. I will be.”

Maison doesn’t say goodbye, leaving the rest of us in awkward silence. Thankfully, Jake is a guy that likes to take charge, especially in situations where he can comfort someone. He’s the ultimate daddy. If it was any other time, I’d take the chance to tease him a little about that.

Now is definitely not the time.

Especially when Jake grabs Travis by the shoulder and meets his eyes to tell him, “You focus on the mission, you hear me? You be fucking careful. You get your ass back here. I’ll watch your boy in the meantime.”

“Yeah?” Travis asks, his voice cracking.

“Of course. I’ll stick Casey on him, too.”

Travis nods a few times, almost like he’s trying to convince himself to believe Jake. “Okay. Yeah. Thanks, Jake.”

“Maison just needs some time,” I add. “He’s in a bad headspace. I’ll try to talk to him while you’re gone.”

“I will too,” Jake adds.

He forces a smile for us. “Thanks, guys.”

“I’ll start on that file.” I turn back to the computer, feeling much steadier the moment the keys are beneath my fingers. “Jake, you want to talk to security? Make sure they’ve got everything sorted before he tries to leave?”

“For sure.”