using another resource.
“Did she say why he’s bringing him back?” Ryan watched him closely. “Do you know?”
He shrugged one shoulder, grim expression revealing his defeat. “Does it matter? We’re a four-man team, not five. I don’t see this as a good thing.”
Ryan grunted and bobbed his head. “You going to tell her?”
“I don’t know. There isn’t much I can say other than that he’s coming back.” That much was true. Was it better to give her a heads up or let her have a few days more without knowing this good thing they had was going to end exactly as he’d feared all along? They were both quiet for a few breaths.
“So, we’ve got a few days off.” Ryan’s tone lightened. “I know I could use some time out of these four walls. Want to go cause some trouble, the three of us?”
He wanted nothing more than to leave this place. But when he thought of a few days with Becca, raising hell with Ryan Hallbeck wasn’t what came to mind. No, a dark room with no phones and locks on all the doors was more in line with what he was thinking; as far from Admiral Black and the rest of the world as physically possible. A quick scan of the other man’s face revealed tension and desperation in equal measure. Ryan was in pain at the thought of time off without distraction. Michael understood not wanting to be alone with his demons.
“Sure.”
“All right.” Ryan whooped and shoved himself off from his perch, spinning to face Michael. “I’m thinking of heading up the coast. Carmel? Or we could tear it up in San Diego. Some pretty sweet clubs in LA if you want to do more of the nightlife thing.” A troubled look crossed Ryan’s broad, tanned features and he tossed back the shaggy auburn hair that had fallen across his brow. “Clubs are okay, right?” He referred to the mission in Wisconsin when a demon controlling partiers at a club nearly got Becca sent to the hospital for a breakdown and Michael more than casually molested by two overzealous dancers.
Managing to quell the growl that automatically curled his lip at the wildly unpleasant memory, Michael gave him an affirmative nod. “Yeah, we can do a few mellow clubs. ” A night of wild dancing and partying probably isn’t the best thing for her if she can barely stand . Michael attempted to placate himself with a reminder she’d gone for an exhausting run after their misunderstanding earlier; she was looking for some distraction too. “You pick, I’ll check with Becca to make sure it’s okay.”
“Cool.” Lighter at the prospect of blowing off some steam, Ryan put a hand to block an imaginary blow, reaching with his other and starting to dance in a mock fight. Before Michael could say anything, one big fist connected with his right bicep and an audible snap froze Ryan in place. “Holy shit, Mike, I’m sorry man. I didn’t hit you that hard, did I?” His expression was a mixture of horror and disbelief.
Grimacing, Michael clutched his broken, mending, re-broken arm, and swore. “It wasn’t you, Ryan. That was a little handicap from the admiral to keep me from killing you.”
All signs of playfulness were gone in an instant. “We’re cool, right Mike?” That he would even ask spoke to a depth of feeling Ryan didn’t confess often. After he’d changed, begun his transformations into a giant reddish wolf, he left his home and entire community behind. This unit was everyone he knew and cared about, and even if he acted like this was all fun and games, Ryan cared deeply for each member. One moreso than the rest.
Michael stopped grimacing and forced a tight smile. “We’re cool.”
Chapter 6
Two light raps on her door brought Becca’s eyes open in an instant. She lay sideways on her bed where she’d dozed off after her shower. She couldn’t get enough sleep lately and it was getting worse. The fear
“Did she say why he’s bringing him back?” Ryan watched him closely. “Do you know?”
He shrugged one shoulder, grim expression revealing his defeat. “Does it matter? We’re a four-man team, not five. I don’t see this as a good thing.”
Ryan grunted and bobbed his head. “You going to tell her?”
“I don’t know. There isn’t much I can say other than that he’s coming back.” That much was true. Was it better to give her a heads up or let her have a few days more without knowing this good thing they had was going to end exactly as he’d feared all along? They were both quiet for a few breaths.
“So, we’ve got a few days off.” Ryan’s tone lightened. “I know I could use some time out of these four walls. Want to go cause some trouble, the three of us?”
He wanted nothing more than to leave this place. But when he thought of a few days with Becca, raising hell with Ryan Hallbeck wasn’t what came to mind. No, a dark room with no phones and locks on all the doors was more in line with what he was thinking; as far from Admiral Black and the rest of the world as physically possible. A quick scan of the other man’s face revealed tension and desperation in equal measure. Ryan was in pain at the thought of time off without distraction. Michael understood not wanting to be alone with his demons.
“Sure.”
“All right.” Ryan whooped and shoved himself off from his perch, spinning to face Michael. “I’m thinking of heading up the coast. Carmel? Or we could tear it up in San Diego. Some pretty sweet clubs in LA if you want to do more of the nightlife thing.” A troubled look crossed Ryan’s broad, tanned features and he tossed back the shaggy auburn hair that had fallen across his brow. “Clubs are okay, right?” He referred to the mission in Wisconsin when a demon controlling partiers at a club nearly got Becca sent to the hospital for a breakdown and Michael more than casually molested by two overzealous dancers.
Managing to quell the growl that automatically curled his lip at the wildly unpleasant memory, Michael gave him an affirmative nod. “Yeah, we can do a few mellow clubs. ” A night of wild dancing and partying probably isn’t the best thing for her if she can barely stand . Michael attempted to placate himself with a reminder she’d gone for an exhausting run after their misunderstanding earlier; she was looking for some distraction too. “You pick, I’ll check with Becca to make sure it’s okay.”
“Cool.” Lighter at the prospect of blowing off some steam, Ryan put a hand to block an imaginary blow, reaching with his other and starting to dance in a mock fight. Before Michael could say anything, one big fist connected with his right bicep and an audible snap froze Ryan in place. “Holy shit, Mike, I’m sorry man. I didn’t hit you that hard, did I?” His expression was a mixture of horror and disbelief.
Grimacing, Michael clutched his broken, mending, re-broken arm, and swore. “It wasn’t you, Ryan. That was a little handicap from the admiral to keep me from killing you.”
All signs of playfulness were gone in an instant. “We’re cool, right Mike?” That he would even ask spoke to a depth of feeling Ryan didn’t confess often. After he’d changed, begun his transformations into a giant reddish wolf, he left his home and entire community behind. This unit was everyone he knew and cared about, and even if he acted like this was all fun and games, Ryan cared deeply for each member. One moreso than the rest.
Michael stopped grimacing and forced a tight smile. “We’re cool.”
Chapter 6
Two light raps on her door brought Becca’s eyes open in an instant. She lay sideways on her bed where she’d dozed off after her shower. She couldn’t get enough sleep lately and it was getting worse. The fear
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