Read Online The Navy's Ghost (Bad Boys of Beta Squad) by Siobhan Muir - Free Book Online

in her grief issued a groan from her chest and she closed her eyes to divert the tears.
    “Are you all right?” Magic grabbed her other hand. “I could send for the nurse.”
    “No, I’m okay fo r now. I’m just…just…”
    “What, Chris?” Todd wiped away a rogue tear.
    “Oh, God, I’m such a girl! Crying over something so stupid.”
    Neither of them said anything but their faces showed their sympathy.
    “I’m never going back to the Teams,” she whispered and more tears fell. “Did you know?”
    Silence followed and her question hung in the air like a hangman’s noose. She figured the whole squad had been informed, but their anguished hush confirmed it. She nodded sharply and closed her eyes, feeling the loss all the way to her soul. Everything she’d ever worked for had evaporated with one bullet wound to her leg. Even the heavy-duty pain meds couldn’t kill the ache of the truth.
    “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
    “Look on the bright side.” Todd offered a half smile. “You’ll be able to train some respect into them stupid cock-swinging commandos early.”
    Ch ris wanted to laugh, but it’d evolve into sobs and she couldn’t break in front of these guys. The men she loved felt deeply, but they also defended their feelings the same way they defended their country, fiercely and ruthlessly. They didn’t show anyone their vulnerabilities if they could help it.
    “Did you talk with Whittleton ?” She had to change the subject.
    “We saw him briefly, but he only told the squad you’d made it out of surgery.” Jim nodded.
    “ Did Magic tell you about Castle?”
    “The master chief here on base ?” Jim shot a look at Todd. “No, what about him?”
    “He requested me to be a new instructor for BUD/S training.”
    She swore Jim’s jaw hit the floor . “He requested you?” She nodded and Retro grinned. “I knew the old bastard had a soft spot for you.”
    Chris snorted. “That’s what Whistler and Magic said. How did you all know this and I didn’t?”
    “Guys’ intuition.” Retro winked.
    “I didn’t think guys had ‘intuition.’ I thought you had ‘gut feelings’.”
    “Same thing,” Magic said.
    “And Castle would never live it down if he showed you, now would he?” Retro’s smile lit up the room and she tried to enjoy it. “So, are you gonna take it?”
    “What else am I gonna do? I can’t walk, can’t run, my leg’s fractured beyond repair and I’ll be out of shape by the time I’ve recovered my mobility. I’m done with the Teams and I won’t drive a desk.”
    Retro nodded and hitched a one-shouldered shrug.
    “ Hey, it won’t be that bad. The new guys coming in won’t know what hit ’em.” His smile came back with a wicked tilt. “You’ll give them a whole new perspective on focus, just like you taught us. Hell, I bet they’ll respect women a whole lot more after you’re done with them.”
    Chris tried to smile, but when her eyes settled on Magic’s sympathetic expression, she almost broke into tears again. All SEALs shared a fear of losing active status and teaching wasn’t the same as doing. She had no friends in the instructors at Coronado, no brothers to watch her back. It’d be another pecking order, with her proving she had the right to be there. Not to mention the cocky recruits. God, I don’t know if I can do this.
    She’d be alone while her crew, her closest friend s, left her for weeks at a time. Grief surged and she sucked in a deep, shaky breath to hold it back until the men left.
    “I think I’m going to sleep again now. I’ll talk to you a little later, okay?”
    “You better believe it, Ensign.” Jim squeezed her hand again. “We’ll be here when you need us. We got your back.”
    “Just ha ve us paged no matter what time.” Todd patted her other forearm. “We’ll be here, come hell or high water.”
    “Thanks, guys.” She closed her eyes and turned her head. “Thanks for being here when I woke up.”
    They each