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“I got myself a job. One I don’t hate. Seems like you did too if you’re friendly with the Irish. Or is that emerald on your finger not an engagement ring?”
“It is an engagement ring,” I stated proudly. “And nobody hires me. I choose who I work with.”
“Not everyone is as lucky as you.”
“Lucky? You think we don’t all have unpleasant histories?” I sneered at him. “I ended up in a fucking trafficker’s nest, and you landed on the streets when there were people who’d have your back stateside if you’d just have asked.
"The government might not support us, but we make our own friends, don’t we?”
He cut his gaze to the ground. “I was in a bad place, Star.”
“So? That’s what friends are for. You had our backs in the sandbox; we’d have had yours at home.”
“Not everyone’s like you. Maybe I forgot that. It’d been some time since we last caught up. And when I said I was in a bad place, I meant it. Got off my meds and shit.”
“You’re back on them?”
“I am.”
Relief filtered through me. “Good. That’s what I like to hear.” I picked up a pawn and studied the piece—it was the same we’d used back when we’d been in Baghdad together. “It’s good to see you, Chadwick.”
“You always did ride people’s asses when you liked them,” he teased.
“Exactly. That’s how you know we’re friends.”
“Good to see you too, Star.”
I didn’t bother demurring: “What are you doing with the Sicilians?”
“Like I told you, Aurora took me in and she realized what I can do—”
“She took you in?”
“There’s no funny business. Hunter De Laurentiis is her husband.”
“I know. But why you? In particular, I mean? When you said she realized what you can do, does she know what you’ve done?”
“Does she know what I did for Uncle Sam? Sure. Does she know what I did off the books? No. That’s why it’s called off the books.”
“You didn’t tell her?”
“No. Of course not. But she probably read between the lines anyway. She’s canny like that.” He shot me a look loaded with warning. “Aurora’s good people. The streets around her base are riddled with the homeless and she took us in, gave us food, put a roof over our heads, gave us a place to wash ourselves and our clothes—”
“She gave you the basics to allow you to pick your lives up again.”
He nodded. “Good people, see?”
“I see.” I wouldn’t have expected that of Aurora either. Not when she exuded ‘stone cold bitch’ vibes. “So you got a promotion?”
“I did.”
“Do I wanna know how?”
He smirked at me, and Jesus, it was good to see that smirk. “Nope. Anyways, are we playing?”
“We’re playing. I’m glad you’ve found your feet, Chad.”
“Me too, to be honest. When I said I was in a bad place, I meant it.”
