Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
The breaks squeal to a stop against the gray pavement.
We collectively nod our thanks to our driver Matt, Cici lingering a little longer to show her gratitude, and step out onto the alley one by one.
Nyx sits in the front, unaware that we’ve stopped.
He scribbles aggressively in his leather notebook, as he does after each mission.
I roll my eyes, slamming the door shut. We always park at least a mile from our hotel.
Cici has already logged in to the city database to delete street camera footage, so that we can safely spread out and discreetly head back to our rooms.
From here, we’ll split up; one half will walk and the others will call an Uber. We often pretend to be couples or siblings, switching partners when we travel in the open. Tonight, I’m coincidentally with Jasper—again. But I’m not complaining.
Jasper is tall and lean. His golden tousled curls and tan skin would have you thinking he’s from the coast, not rural Alabama.
He’s disarmingly warm, unlike most men in our line of work.
But on the field, he’s fatal. Like a Jekyll and Hyde.
Not something I would have guessed when I first met him.
I had barely tapped my earpiece during the Yellowstone rescue to call for backup when Jasper had single handedly sprawled all five men out in front of me like a low country boil on a picnic table.
Ever since my journey at T.A.L.O.N began, Jasper has become a good friend you could say.
His crush developed in our training, which sounds silly at our age.
It’s not the careless kind of crush though.
It’s always been quiet and careful. We’ve gotten close, close enough that he knows my tells.
But trust is a language I don’t speak easily, or really at all.
Affection feels too much like a doorway I’ve learned not to walk through.
Nonetheless, Jasper stands on the other side of it, patient and hopeful.
I pull my frizzed hair into a low pony to secure my dark toboggan. I don’t understand why God gave me these cursed cheeks that make me look like a chipmunk under this thing.
“It brings out your dimples.” Jasper says, shoving his gloved hands into his denim jacket.
Did I say that out loud? I pause, offering a thin smile.
Slipping my arm through his, I quicken my step to keep up with his long strides as we aim for the sidewalk.
“When do you think you’ll start saving some action for the rest of us Florence? I understand your passion for all of this, but here, lately, you’re beginning to leave us behind.”
I grit my teeth, scanning the area. “I’m not leaving anyone behind; you’re just not keeping up.” I shrug as our breath clouds in the frigid night air. “I feel like we’re being ran in circles with these wolves this year.” His pace slows but I tug on his arm, urging us forward.
“You know I’m just worried,” he says. “We’re all in this together and with all due respect, facing unknown territory alone won’t help any of the wolves if something happens to you.”
My boot scuffs the sidewalk, but I quickly adjust as a couple approaches and lean on his shoulder playing the part of a loving girlfriend.
I beam up at him like a lovesick puppy as they pass, giving his bicep a small squeeze as I grit through my teeth.
“Number one, I don’t need you worrying about me.
I was appointed lead for a reason and if that means taking the front line every time I feel that’s best in the moment, then it’s your job to trust me—” I pause, snickering.
“And number two, have you been working out more?”
Chuckling, he removes his hand from his pocket, lacing it through mine. “Flossie, you can’t throw me off like that, but I appreciate the attempt.”
Heat flames my cheeks, his fingers feeling like a sensation of needles against my skin. I laugh, throwing my hood up over my toboggan ending the conversation.
Our hotel comes into view just as Bear tumbles out of his Uber. “I will never ride with him again!” screams Nina, crossing straight over Bear’s back as if he were a plank.
“I’m only human!” He groans as he rolls over onto the concrete, throwing his arm into the air as he waves his invisible white flag.
Nyx is at the driver’s door mumbling his apologies, then slips him what I’m assuming is some extra cash for the nostril damage.
He stiffens as we approach, his gaze locking onto mine and Jasper’s interlinked hands.
His grip visibly tightens around the leather notebook before he strides for the lobby doors without another word.
A scuffle sounds from behind as Greer gags, turning the corner of the building.
Her sharp black bob bounces as she staggers forward.
The slender woman plops down beside Bear gasping for breath.
“The military needs to hire you to fill up their gas chambers, you asshole, if you ever pull something like that again I’m so serious when I say we will ratchet strap you to the roof. ”
Cici and Jett approach behind us, Jett looking as if he stumbled upon a murder scene with Greer’s head between her knees, murmuring curses, and Bear still splattered on the ground.
Jett sighs, shaking his head. “You know, there’s a frat party a few blocks back we passed that you’d fit right into, Bear. Take your adoption papers with you.”
Bear splays his hand mockingly over his heart, snorting. “Oh, shut up you tobacco chewing truck driving son of a?—“
“Bear!” we shout in unison, nodding toward a family who is standing just mere inches behind us.
“Get inside. Now—” the mother whispers.
Bear gives his best spirit fingers to Jett as his lips curve wickedly. “Besides, who would apply your hemorrhoid cream for you every night if you didn’t have me around?”
The small child pipes up from behind. “Mom, what’s hemorrhoid cream?”
The mother gasps, ushering her daughter quickly inside.
I groan, rubbing my temples. “Get up and take your disgusting hind end to your room for a shower. Now.” Kicking his shoulder, I walk over and swing the door open.
“Sir, yes, sir!” Flipping from his back to his feet within the blink of an eye, Bear gives me a strict salute and marches in.
Cici offers Greer a hand up, both mumbling their complaints about our companion as they slip past me with Jasper in tow.
He throws me a quick wink before disappearing through the frame.
Still holding the door, I look at Jett who’s staring up at the empty midnight sky.
His jaw tightens, then loosens. “Go ahead, Florence, I’ll be up in a minute.
” His gaze doesn’t move, as if the sky can part and give him whatever answer he’s looking for.
I nod my head, not willing to waste another minute in the cold.
I check the hallway twice before unlocking the door, then wait a heartbeat, and let Greer slip inside first. The Japanese beauty tosses her duffel on the bed as if we’ve returned from a weekend shopping trip instead of a firefight and immediately kicks off her boots.
“So anyway,” she says, already grinning, “the guy behind the loading crates? Not part of the plan obviously.” I freeze halfway to the window as she drops on the mattress, propping herself up onto her elbows.
“He waited until Bear moved the truck. Smart, right? I almost missed him. Almost.”
I move the curtains, parting them two inches, and scan the parking lot.
“You should’ve seen it,” she continues. “He comes out from the right side of the warehouse, not the door but the actual wall. There was a gap in the paneling. He’d been there the whole time.”
My hand rests near my sidearm as headlights roll past the building. “And you ran toward him,” I mutter.
“I parkoured toward him,” she corrects proudly. “Very important distinction.”
“You ran toward a man with a rifle.” I say slowly, turning back to her.
She rolls her eyes. “He had terrible aim.”
I bend down, checking beneath the bed. “Well, that’s not reassuring.” She’s new and only twenty-eight, but she should know better.
“It should be. I’m still alive. You would’ve done the same, no?”
I ignore her, flicking the bathroom light on.
“I hit the forklift, used the tire as a step, flipped over the crate, and kicked the rifle down before he could chamber another round. Honestly, he seemed more offended than injured.”
I poke my head back out, grabbing my luggage. “You should be careful, Greer.”
She snorts, folding her arms. “They were slow.”
“And still armed.” I counter.
“They were predictable, Florence.”
I stop before the door, studying her. “What did your old unit think of your technique?”
She straightens, swinging her feet off of the bed, her dark brown eyes zeroing on me. “They thought I disobeyed orders.”
I return the gaze. “Did you?” We’re not talking about her skills anymore.
“Yes.” There’s no hesitation as she says it, as if it’s an honor.
“Why?” I ask.
She shrugs. “All I know is they made me lead because of it in the beginning. Then things changed.” Greer’s eyes dart to the floor as if she can’t hold my stare. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” she mutters.
Crap. I do. “Yeah, I have a meeting with Ana and Nyx in forty minutes. I need a shower first.” I lift my arm, sniffing underneath. Yeah. I need more than a shower.
Greer combs her fingers through her hair. “Therapy after stabbing people,” she hums. “Healthy coping mechanism, Flossie.”
“It’s not—just don’t wait up,” I grumble, sealing the door behind me.
I don’t know what it is about a scalding-hot bath after a mission, let’s call it self-care, if you will, but I could sit here until my skin melts off.
Being five foot one, I’m the perfect height to submerge myself completely allowing the water to burn my scalp.
Maybe if I stay under long enough it’ll trickle into my ears and flow to my brain to boil the raging thoughts out.
Jasper wasn’t lying when he mentioned the frequent solo highs I’ve been having in the field. But I can’t help it.