Chapter 32
LAYLA
Iwas the first in the formation the next morning. Nerves skittered around in my belly and my palms were sweaty as hell. Every so often when I blinked, I saw that light coming around the pier again and I knew there was a chance Santiago might not be here this morning.
Depending on who had been out there and depending on whether they’d seen me, there was a possibility that our esteemed instructor found himself in a steaming heap of crap this morning. Because of me.
I swallowed hard, but my throat remained dry. With every person I saw coming over the rise, my heart leaped into my throat, but none of them were him. The other cadets arrived one by one, falling into formation until we were nearly all accounted for.
The knots of tension in my muscles tightened and I clasped my hands together even tighter, wringing them behind my back as I kept my eye on the mound. My heart was beating a million miles a minute, knees half numb from the stress.
Finally, another head popped up around the rise, and there he was. Relief flooded every last inch of me, making me feel as light as a feather as a smile broke free across my face.
I dialed it back quickly, aiming what was left of it at the ground in case one of the other cadets picked up on my undue happiness at seeing our relentless instructor arrive. When I looked up again, his features were hard as stone, stoic as he gazed upon us like he was assessing us for something.
“Cadets,” he said by way of greeting, his voice quieter than usual as it rang out into the early morning air. “Today, things are going to get real.”
Oh, so that’s why he looks so serious. I swallowed again, the nerves back in full force as I realized this was the first time he’d ever looked so solemn about an exercise.
Santiago’s blue eyes were hooded with worry, his muscles pulling and releasing as he clenched his hands behind his back before folding his arms across his chest. Almost like he was uncomfortable, which didn’t happen to him. Ever.
What on earth is going on?
As if he’d heard the question I’d shouted in my mind, his gaze landed squarely on mine as his shoulders grew broader on a deep breath.
“You are going to be training in a real helicopter today. The simulations have been fun for some of you and terrifying for others, but regardless of which camp you fell into, those are behind us for now.”
Something slid down my spine, but I wasn’t sure if it was anxiety, fear, or excitement. Maybe even a mixture of all three. I’d been up in a real helicopter before. Just once, but I hadn’t been afraid. In fact, I’d loved it.
However, this wouldn’t be a pleasure flight, and judging by the look on Santiago’s face, there was some real danger involved. This is the real deal then, huh?
“Once again, some of the other instructors will be joining us.” As he said it, he checked his watch and his features twisted in consternation as he gave his head a small shake. “When they finally show up.”
The last bit was muttered, but I was standing close enough to hear it. I frowned when the implications of his offhanded comment hit me. It meant the instructors were late, which was not normal.
Usually, whoever was going to be involved in an exercise was there by the time we arrived. At worst, some of them arrived at the same time we did. Now, we were here and almost ready to go, and Santiago was the only instructor in sight.
Maybe they’re meeting us at the chopper.
He let out a heavy breath, but then he folded his strong arms again and looked back at us, his gaze sweeping past mine much too fast for my liking, but I got it. We weren’t together and we never would be.
“You’ll be going up in teams of four. Once the pilot gets into position, he’ll signal the instructor with your team, and then you’re going to be jumping out of a perfectly functioning helicopter into the ocean.”
Several people around me groaned, and Santiago rolled his eyes. “Let me remind you that jumping out of perfectly operating aircraft into the water is literally part of your job description. You’ve been practicing your jumps with Petty Officer Ford, haven’t you?”
I nodded. Anne Ford was one of my favorite instructors. Other than Santiago, obviously. She hadn’t been involved much in our training except for the lessons and exercises on how to do the jumps, but I still smiled. It would be good to see her again.
The woman was bad ass. I admired her, and she’d certainly done her best to prepare us for this during the sessions we’d had with her.
After waiting for a round of nods from us, Santiago gave us a curt one in return.
“Right. Well, as long as you’ve been paying attention in training with her, you’re ready for this.
We’ll be going out on the Alex Harper, which happens to be my favorite cutter.
Once we’re far enough out, the first group will go up, do the exercise, and be picked up in a Zodiac. Rinse, repeat.”
As he looked at us, I saw the worry darkening his eyes even more than before. “This is not an exercise you want to play games on, cadets. The instructors will be there, but we can’t hold your hands every step of the way.”
He turned his gaze to the bay. “That is not a swimming pool. There are currents to contend with, waves and creatures. Although the exercise will be controlled, we can’t control the wind or the ocean. You’ll need to have your heads in the game out there.”
Petty Officer Ford arrived with a small group of other instructors then, but as they shuffled closer, talking among themselves and messing around, I saw Santiago’s jaw tighten. Clearly, they weren’t taking this nearly as seriously as he was and he didn’t like it.
Some of his worry started making a bit more sense, especially after what had happened in the swimming pool that day with Robertson.
As bizarre as it was, I was starting to get the feeling that Santiago didn’t trust the other instructors as much as he should’ve been able to, and worse, I was starting to see why.
I knew from my dad’s stories that during his time here, the instructors had been solid as a rock, a cohesive team who had served together for many years and had stuck together through thick and thin.
I’d never quite understood why he’d been so proud of that fact.
Surely, that was what they were supposed to be like, but now, I was getting a sneaking suspicion that the team on Station at the moment were perhaps not quite as solid.
A scary suspicion to have when my life was literally supposed to be in their hands in just a little while.
I swiped my tongue across my lips and shoved the thought away.
Nah, I’ve got to be wrong. They probably just had a morning briefing or something and that’s why they’re late.
And the other stuff is just coincidence or something.
Santiago’s jaw ticked as he waited for his coworkers to settle once they joined us.
Then he shot them a questioning look before he carried on explaining the exercise.
“The pilot is going to take you up, then he’ll fly you out for a few seconds before circling back to the cutter.
It is at this point that he’ll give the signal.
He’ll bring you as low as he can for the jump, but keep your eyes on your instructor and then do exactly as they say. ”
Another round of nods, then he ground his teeth and nodded. “Right, okay. That’s enough talking. Let’s get to the Alex.”
Almost immediately, chatter broke out all around me as we followed the instructors to the cutter.
Once we were safely aboard, Anne took me and Mel to get geared up while Santiago took the guys.
There was a tense silence among our group as the first team ran to the chopper, staying low just like we’d been taught to do.
The last guy had barely cleared the deck when the pilot started lifting off.
Then he made a dramatic swoop as soon as they were airborne—and before some of them had buckled up properly.
Anxiety swirled through me as I watched Matt grab onto something as he struggled to buckle in, but then excitement took hold of me.
The pressure was finally on today and we were about to get our first little taste of what the job would really feel like. While my palms were getting sweaty all over again and my stomach definitely felt fluttery, I was also absolutely looking forward to my turn.
As I watched, the chopper rose high into the pale blue sky. Then they flew away from us for a few before they circled back. Sooner than I’d expected, I saw the instructor appear in the door. Then the helicopter descended even more.
To me, it looked like they were too close to the water, and when I glanced at Santiago, I saw him curse as his eyes narrowed. Then the first cadet—Johnathan, I assumed—appeared at the door and jumped, followed shortly by the other three and then the instructor.
I burst into spontaneous applause when the first heads started surfacing. The Zodiac pulled away from the cutter and raced toward them. A few seconds later, wind whipped overhead as the chopper came in to land and we watched with bated breath as the others heaved themselves up on the Zodiac.
In no time at all, they were back aboard, cheering and high-fiving each other as the next group ran toward the chopper and the whole thing started all over again.
Every time, just before the cadets jumped, I thought the helicopter was too close to the water, but since no one other than Santiago seemed to be concerned about it, I let it go and focused on my upcoming turn.
Today, I was grouped together with cadets I’d never really spoken to much, and they didn’t look delighted to have me in their team. Even so, when our signal came, I sprinted toward the chopper right along with the rest of them, doing my best to ignore the deafening drone in my ears.
No sooner had my ass hit the seat when the pilot started lifting us off the deck, and one of the guys yelped, grabbing onto my leg for balance and leverage to drop into his seat.
As soon as he realized who he was touching and where, he yanked his hand back like it’d been burned and glared at me like I’d done something wrong.
I rolled my eyes at him. He was being ridiculous.
It wasn’t like I was going to report him to Santiago for grabbing onto the closest possible thing when he’d been caught off guard.
But then we were airborne and I stared down at the gorgeous, glittering blue water instead of paying attention to the silly boy glaring on my other side.
This was what we’d been training for. We were ready.
It was going to be a walk in the park, and there was no way I was about to let this guy ruin it for me.