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SAFFRON
No,I wasn't gloating about the last trainee test. Okay, I was gloating a little. I'd given Gabe my reports. Maxim had been dropped. That was one thing I could say about my brother. He wasted no time on bullshit misogynists, especially not one who touched his sister. I wasn't aware whether or not most trainees knew that Gabe was my brother, but the whole point was, it didn't matter. I could have been anyone. That could have been Tabs. Granted, I had left Maxim intact. I wasn't so sure Tabs would have.
If I was being honest though, I had been surprised by Lock. I hadn't expected him to find me so quickly. I'd dropped Rook easily enough, but Lock shouldn't have been able to locate me, which meant I was slipping. Jesus.
The look on his face had been worth it though. Today's training mission was different. We would eventually have to work as a team, but first he had to find me. And I meant to make it difficult. So I'd chosen one of my favorite disguises, although it was difficult to hide the hair. My braids were long and thick, but with enough bulky clothing and a hat, I would be hard to distinguish.
As we lined up in the training room, the trainees looked ready to go, dressed in black, tight-fitted shirts. It was bad that I quickly noticed how Lock's shirt fit differently over his shoulders. When he'd had me down yesterday, I couldn't help noticing how well his cargoes fit as they hung low on his hips. I'd known if I lifted his shirt, I'd have found the V leading down to a very promising heaven.
Thinking about him is not going to get the mission accomplished.
Gabe pointed to me. "Saff, why don't you remind the trainees of how the mission is going to go?"
I gave him a brief nod and stepped forward. "This mission will test out your ability to locate your target and then work with an asset. We'll know we've been located when you use the code word, and then we have to make it to our target location. There will be agents in the field. Some that you don't know and won't recognize, whose main job will be to make sure that we don't get to the goal. But we have to exhibit teamwork. Your trainers don't know the final target. So when you retain your clue, you'll have to do the majority of the legwork in figuring out where you're meant to be, communicating the information to us, and then working with us to get where you're supposed to be. You are not expected to complete the mission. I will repeat that just so it sinks in. You are not expected to complete the mission. But the trainees who can get the farthest will be the ones that we take note of.”
Robert glanced around. "Where's Maxim?"
I slid a gaze to Gabe. My brother wasted no time. "Maxim isn't fit for the program anymore."
Robert frowned. "He was great yesterday. I was told he was taken in for medical and then wasn’t told anything else."
"Sorry, that's how it happens sometimes."
Robert glowered at me. "What did you do to him?"
"Nothing."
He looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but Gabe stepped forward. That was one thing I had to say about my brother; he brooked no argument. You had to listen to him.
With our assignments complete, Lock strode over. “Do you feel like giving me a clue?"
I shook my head. "No. We're working together today, but it is my job to assess that you are fit and that you won't leave your team in a lurch. So I need you to not leave me in a lurch today."
“It would help if I knew what the disguise was though. I guess, I'll just have to figure it out. You're not going to tranq me today, are you?"
"That depends. Do you deserve it?"
He scowled at me. “It was a lucky shot."
“If you say so. So far, I've had a lot of luck with you, haven't I?"
Tabs came strolling over with an extra wiggle of her hips, and I could confirm that Gabe was, in fact, watching. "Ready to go?"
“Yup."
"Are you going with acting playful?"
I grinned at her. “Yeah, it works every time."
“You would think along the way, somebody somewhere would notify the team that you were the best at hiding, but maybe not. Maybe everyone's pride gets in the way."
I laughed as we headed out to the changing rooms.
As we both changed into our disguises, I wondered if Lock would have a tip to find me. He'd be given my coordinates, a list of potential favorite haunts, and then set out in the wild.
For this session, we'd all be doing separate missions. The trainees would be dropped together and have to find their locations and work on their own. Once Tabs and I were dressed, we marched up to the vans and were safely sequestered away before the trainees were brought out and led to their own vans.
It took us about twenty minutes to get into the city. Once we did, the van stopped to let me out. Tabs grinned. “Good luck."
