AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ain’t that the truth. Which means Pierce and the others will test my sanity just as much once they’re ready to come on board. Though, I’m hoping Xavier has a bit more self-preservation.”
Booker nudged Hank’s arm when Xavier raced toward them, fifty feet off the deck with twin dust eddies whirling behind him as he waited until the last moment to bleed off all the airspeed and plunk the machine down across the large red H. “Right. He’s far calmer than me.”
“I should have known you’d all be the reason for more gray hairs.”
“Thinking that’s how you like it.” He nodded at the man. “I can’t thank you enough for this. Seriously… Not sure what we would have done if you hadn’t tossed us this Hail Mary.”
Hank waved it off as if it was nothing. That it was perfectly normal to create massive infrastructure on what felt like a whim to Booker. “I’d been considering it for a while. I just didn’t have the personnel to make it a reality until you brought it up during the last of your rehab at Brighter Days Ranch. I’m just glad Taz ratted you guys out, or I might have missed a huge opportunity.”
“Thinking we’re the ones who would have missed out, but thanks, just the same.”
A snort. As if Hank thought Booker was crazy, which, he probably was. Not that Booker would point that out. Give Hank a reason to reconsider keeping Booker as part of the team. But the fact Hank seemed unfazed by everything that had happened eased any remaining tension.
Two SUVs pulled up as the rest of the men disembarked.
Hank raised a brow when Stone moved in beside him. “Well? How’d they do?”
“Picture perfect, as expected. Though, remind me to fly with Xavier, next time. I like keeping my lunch in my gut and not up in the back of my throat.”
Booker placed a hand on his chest. “Are you seriously saying you didn’t enjoy those maneuvers? That hurts, Stone.”
“Not nearly as much as my stomach when you dropped us off that cliff — gave me a real closeup view of all those rocks. You definitely have some mad skills, Booker. Still…”
Xavier clapped Booker on the shoulder as he ran over from his machine. “I don’t know where you learned some of those moves, but damn… you’re a hard man to keep up with.”
“Says the guy who flies as if he was born in a cockpit. But, it’s nice to know someone appreciates my flying style.”
Gunnar nudged Wyatt. “Yeah, the jackass who never has to fly with him.”
Booker shook his head. “You, too, Gunn?”
Gunn merely shrugged. “Like Stone said. You’ve got some mad skills, but you definitely like to take things to the extreme.”
“Just give Xavier a couple more months, and he’ll be as crazy as me. Guaranteed.”
Hunter huffed. “Donotencourage the guy. I only have so many feathers.”
Booker patted his breast pocket. “Still got mine, so… feel free to give Xavier the lion’s share.”
“And miss throwing myself on the ground in front of you? I don’t think so.”
Gunn sighed. “You’re all nuts. Though, those crazy skills of yours, Booker, are the only reason any of us are alive to tease you. What you did that night…”
Booker rolled his shoulders. He hated when the guys thanked him for what had happened. Not when he knew if he’d been half the pilot he thought he was, he would have found a way to ensure everyone had survived. It was bad enough they had all suffered injuries — Burns. Dislocations. Permanent numbness, not to mention lingering migraines and vertigo. But knowing they’d been medically discharged because of them stung more. Just like his discharge for a pneumothorax and a left side that didn’t quite work right.
He waved it off. “You four are the reason we got out of that chopper alive. Getting those doors open, then getting everyone you could out, despite being upside down and twenty feet below the water. Not to mention Wyatt pulling that metal out of my side and shoulder then dragging my ass to the surface. All I did was keep the machine in one piece long enough to ditch it.”
Gunn sighed. “A lesser man wouldn’t have even gotten us airborne. Would have froze like Calloway did. You had what? Three seconds to get us clear? And that doesn’t include how you had to fight Calloway for most of that time. When we started spinning… I still don’t know how you kept it level and upright. How you avoided hitting any of those jets. I’m just glad Hank opted to start this division because I really didn’t want to see what your idea of an airline looked like.”
Xavier laughed. “Knowing Booker, it would have been a makeshift C-Can and a couple of choppers that were always beingtinkeredwith.”
Booker crossed his arms on his chest, ignoring the pinch in his ribs that never quite vanished. How the scar tissue always pulled when he moved. “I’d be thoroughly insulted if that wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. Though, if you all prefer a state-of-the-art facility with shiny new machines…”
“Speaking of which…” Hank motioned to the building standing like a monolith against the mountainous backdrop. “Let’s head in. Now that you’ve all had a few days to get acquainted with the machinery and the kinds of jobs you’ll be facing, it might be a good time to go over any questions. Make sure we have everyone’s documents on file, in case we get an emergency call. With Booker’s contact overseas squared away, I’ve been able to open this division to international endeavors. I have a feeling you guys are going to be very busy.”
The men started for the main doors, joking and shoving each other. Booker lagged behind, doing his best to overlook the way they didn’t quite move as fluidly as they once had. The occasional limp or how Xavier shook his hand a few times to ease what Booker knew was residual numbness. Just like he knew Hunter self-medicated with exercise and beer to deal with his chronic pain.
What they’d all come to accept as the cost of surviving. The basis for moving forward.
