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Really? But maybe that was the thing—who wanted to take home radioactive waste?
Maybe he’d hyped this way up in his head.
He pulled out and headed toward the pickup spot. “Meet me on the road.”
No answer from Fraser. Weird, but Ned kept driving. Fraser stood by the side of the road. He raised his hand, smiled, like,Hey, bro, pick me up.
Ned slowed. Stopped. “Get—”
As Fraser opened the door, behind him, from the forest, emerged—ah, he should have guessed it—Master Chief Trini, dressed in full tactical gear, pointing his M-16 at the car, and behind him, his XO, Marsh, their cousin Ford. And then, to his starboard, there was Mac—Riley McCord—and Sonny…
“Don’t do it, bro.” Fraser looked at him.
“Seriously—?”
“Hands up, off the wheel!” Trini shouted.
“C’mon!”
“Now, Bull!” This from Mac, closing in on the driver’s side.
Ned lifted his hands. “Everybody just stay calm—”
“Get out.” Mac yanked the door open, grabbed his jacket.
Ned jerked his arm up and back, broke the hold. “Back. Off!”
Mac wore an expression of betrayal, and Ned shook his head, hands up. “Just—hear me out.”
As soon as he stepped out, Mac grabbed him, shoved him against the car, kicked out his legs.
“Watch it.”
Mac pulled his KA-BAR off him.
Ned whirled around. “I’ll need that back—”
Mac yanked it up, away from his reach, peddled back.
Ned held up his hands, turned around. “Is anyone going to listen—”
“I’m listening,” Trini said and held up his hand to Mac, then Sonny and Cruz.
Fraser, too, had stepped away from the car.
Now Ned looked at him. “You had to call the entire team?”
“That was Trini’s choice,” Fraser said.
“We were already in country.” The Master Chief lowered his weapon. “Talk.”
“What’s there to talk about?” Mac said.
“Easy there, Mac,” Trini said.
“He’s about to put back into play what we nearly died securing? I don’t think so—” Mac reached for Ned, and Ned slammed his hand down on Mac’s wrist.
“Hey! Hey—just, everyone take a breath. Let’s just talk about this.” Fraser, his hands also up, but more to calm everyone down. “Trini, I told you the score.”
