Chapter 10 #2
While I knew I’d been issued a heavy-duty pack containing specialized equipment, I brought the jump bag I’d put together myself with gloves, sunglasses, grappling hooks, and a heavy braided rope along with hand warmers and a short ax.
There was a track a hundred yards from the building, a few men and a couple of women jogging around it. There were also several cargo-style planes near the building, one of which was being washed. Maybe there were no ongoing fires.
From where I remained in the truck, I could see few men standing in protective gear, as if preparing for an active fire. I’d worn fire-retardant clothes, uncertain how deep the training would go today. The email with instructions had been short and sweet.
For a few seconds, I allowed my thoughts to drift to Grace and the kiss we’d shared earlier. She’d seemed so happy about the deer, completely unassuming and joyous, which was an emotion I hadn’t seen in a long time. Just having her in my arms had felt right, as if she was supposed to be there.
But when she’d pushed me away, I’d seen disappointment in her eyes, maybe for herself. Maybe for me. Either way, I’d promised both of us that I’d maintain our friendship, becoming her roommate and the dude who was determined to help her fix up the place.
How funny that just thinking about her made me press my fingers against my lips. Yep. I could still taste her, including the vanilla coffee. Right now, I needed to put her completely out of my mind, or I wouldn’t be able to do my job.
The job came first. Earning my place on the team came first. The rest? Fuck it.
So here I was. I climbed out, swinging the duffle over my shoulder and taking purposeful strides toward the building.
There was a smell in the air that brought back dozens of memories, not only from the work I’d done while in prison but before when I’d been a volunteer firefighter.
I’d loved both jobs, no matter if I’d been treated as if on a chain gang when helping with fires across the northwest.
I’d felt important. Just for a little while.
As soon as I walked past the few who remained outside, they stopped talking and turned their full attention toward me. I was instantly on edge but did what I could to shove my feelings aside.
“Looking for Captain Daughtry,” I said, making certain to look each man in the eyes.
“His office is just on the left when you walk in,” one of them said without introducing himself.
“Thank you.” I could tell they were watching me as I walked in, but I wasn’t planning on falling into the game they were playing.
And there was always a game.
There were at least a dozen other Zullies moving from one room to another. I noticed an open classroom and could just catch a glimpse of a weight room.
The facility was a hell of a lot nicer than the firehouse I’d worked out of.
I’d tried to do some research on the Zullies before coming, heading into a library and using their computers.
The group was impressive, the work they’d done over the years vital.
They’d worked in several states alongside other groups.
They’d saved millions of acres and had even engineered aerial fire suppression, earning themselves dozens of accolades. They were a proud and tight group.
And I was a fucking rookie.
When I was just outside the captain’s office, I heard two voices.
I knocked on the door, taking a deep breath.
“Come in.”
The man’s voice was gruff and when I opened the door, I immediately recognized Landen. “We were just talking about you,” he said.
“I don’t think I’m late,” I answered.
“Not at all,” the captain said as he stood. “Isaac Daughtry. That’s captain or cap’n if you’d prefer.”
“Yes, sir.” His handshake was firm. So was Landen’s.
“You’ve done some impressive work, Rory. Or would you prefer Viper?”
“Only my mother and sister called me Rory.”
Both men laughed. “Understood,” the captain said.
“Viper it is. I’m sure you’ve heard we are short staffed.
Unfortunately, we had another man decide to use his limited time off to go rock climbing.
He has a broken leg in three places to prove he’s not good at the sport.
That means your on-the-job training will be hot and heavy. Can you handle that?”
“Yes, sir. Not a problem.”
“Good. How long has it been since you’ve made a jump?”
“A few years.”
The two men looked at each other and the captain nodded. “Are you up for making one today? Of course you’ll have a buddy and a slight refresher on rules.”
“Hell, yeah. I can do that.”
The captain sat on the edge of his desk, folding his hands together.
“Let me make something clear. I love your enthusiasm and I can tell you’re damn capable of doing this job, but you’re intelligent enough to know it takes a full team to make this work.
That means no hotdogging. I don’t give a shit that they call us hotshots.
That’s a term I cannot stand. You’re only as good as the jumper next to you. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. I do.”
“Okay. After we introduce you to the crew who are on duty, you’ll need to fill out some paperwork, then we’ll assign you a locker and I’ll have one of the guys show you around. Early this afternoon, Landen is taking a crew up for some practice jumps. You’ll be joining them. Good enough?”
“Good enough.”
The captain smiled and handed me a folder full of paperwork.
“Alright, Viper. Let’s meet the crew. Just be warned. A few of the guys do bite.”
“That’s okay because my teeth have venom.”
Both men laughed. “I told you he’d fit in,” Landen said.
I followed behind them and the captain wasted no time getting the men together. They also didn’t waste any time adhering to his command to gather together.
The space was designed more of as a lounge, complete with three different television screens, two different seating areas, and a bar that had nothing to do with serving alcohol. While they hadn’t tried to hide the appearance of the hangar, everything that I’d seen was state of the art.
Maybe I should have asked what they knew about me, but what good would that do? At this point, I couldn’t give two shits.
“Listen up, ladies and gentlemen. We have a rookie.”
The crew whistled and taunted my arrival from the get-go, which I’d expected.
“Yeah, yeah. Settle the fuck down. Viper Locke. The rest of the assholes and idiots otherwise known as the Zullies.”
Half raised their fists, hollering as if some battle cry.
“Why Viper?”
I counted to ten before I answered just for the dramatic effect. “Because I’m deadly.”
Half groaned, the other throwing their hands out. One guy had his eyes pinned on me and if he could drive me straight into my grave he would.
“We don’t give a shit about prima donnas here,” the guy said with a bite in his tone.
I was about to answer with a nasty comment when the captain glared at me briefly before turning his attention on the smokejumper.
“I suggest you give him credit where credit is due, Axe. The man is a sharpshooter and for all you girls out there, that means he could shoot a peanut off your head at three hundred and fifty yards. He’s the real deal so I suggest you not piss him off. ”
The collective ‘whoa’ was not necessarily appreciated.
Definitely not by Axe, who turned and walked away.
A few of the guys acted as if they were going to break rank, but all the captain had to do was give them a dirty look. At least I noted the captain had tight control over the group.
I was already on edge and that was usually not the best place for me to be.
“Now that we have that out of our system, time to do some damn laps around the track. Don’t you think, boys?”
The group grumbled, but it wasn’t my damn fault.
“Dante, otherwise known around here as Raptor, when he’s ready, show Viper around including his locker.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Viper. Grab one of the seats to fill out the paperwork. Shouldn’t take you too long. We have almost everything already. When you’re done with the tour, Landen will get your equipment assigned.”
“Got it, sir.” I moved toward the sofas, ignoring the jeering looks. The captain was right in that given how I’d come to them, the paperwork from working within the prison system program had been forwarded. All I had to do was to put my new address and phone number.
Well, shit. Yeah, I’d memorized where Grace lived, but how the hell was I supposed to put her address down? What choice did I have? Hopefully, no one on the team knew her.
When I was finished, I dropped off the file in the captain’s office and Dante was waiting for me.
“Dante. Right?”
“Most people call me Raptor,” he answered.
“Should I know why?”
“I have an uncanny ability to see victims.”
Huffing, I looked away. “I don’t wish that on anyone.”
“Let’s head to the locker room first so you can put your stuff away.”
“Fine by me.”
Just as we made our way to the corridor, Axe came barreling out, making the mistake of pushing me.
Bad move.
I responded in kind without thinking, driving him against the wall. I’d never seen so much fury in someone who didn’t know who the hell I was. That didn’t stop him. He lunged toward me and we were about to get into a fight when a shrill whistle sounded behind us.
“Enough!” the captain yelled. “I’m not going to have this shit in my house. Do you understand me, gentlemen? Do you? I don’t know what crawled into your ass today, Axe, but I’m finished with sandbox tantrums for the fucking year.”
I already had one hand wrapped around his shirt, ready to throw a punch with the other just like he was doing. What I noticed in the man’s eyes was as much pain as I’d experienced. While the blip in time lasted for a split second, whatever demon was crawling inside had nearly consumed him.
While I wasn’t usually the one to give in—ever—I did this time, pulling away and throwing my hands into the air.
“Go release some fucking adrenaline and testosterone, Beckett,” the captain told Axe. “You both get one warning. One.”
I took a deep breath, obviously not endearing myself to anyone. While the others dispersed, Axe continued to glare at me until one of the jumpers pulled him away.
Raptor was suddenly behind me. “Don’t let him get to you.”
“I don’t need this shit.”
“Yeah, I get it. He’s been this way on and off for a few weeks. Come on. Let’s get you that locker.”
I could tell I wasn’t about to make any friends at all. Like I’d told myself before. Fine by me. While I trailed behind Raptor, I sensed at least a few others were watching me.
“You can take this one,” Raptor said. “The shower is through there.”
As I tossed my bag inside, I didn’t bother putting a lock on. If any of them wanted to steal my shit, they could have at it.
“What’s his issue?” I asked when he led me into the weight room.
Raptor sighed, acting as he wanted to ensure no one was paying any attention. “Look, man. It’s not my place to say anything, but since he acted like a fucking shithead, I guess I can tell you. He thinks you’re replacing his brother on the team.”
“I don’t know his brother. And I sure as shit don’t want to know him. Did his brother quit?”
Raptor shoved his hands into his pockets. “No, he died on the job. A helicopter crash and Axe continues to blame himself.”
Exhaling, some of the angry wind had been ripped from my sails. “Well, he doesn’t need to worry. I can’t fly a damn helicopter.”
Chuckling, Raptor shook his head. “Then I think you’ll be just fine. However, just a warning.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“The dude has a mean right hook.”
“Well, guess what? So do I.”