Read Online The Navy's Ghost (Bad Boys of Beta Squad) by Siobhan Muir - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Siobhan Muir
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squeezed a hand, but she didn’t open her eyes. They had to leave so she could let the tears out without worrying them. She needed to grieve for the loss of her career, but not in front of them.
When the door clicked shut, she took a deep breath and released her tears with a shuddering sob.
****
“It’s killing her,” Retro said as soon as they hit the hallway.
“Yeah, I know. ” Magic shoved his hands into his pockets.
“I’m not talking about the pain. I’m talking about being discharged from the Teams. It’s killing her.”
“She’s tougher than she looks, Retro. She’ll pull though.” Despite his words, Magic didn’t sound convinced. “Besides, she has torturing the new recruits to look forward to. Man, I’d give just about anything to be a fly on the wall when she does SERE to those boys.”
“Fuck.” Retro laughed. “ They’ll be blindsided, and it won’t be with her fist. It’ll be her ass and those tank tops she wears when it gets hot. Woowee, they were torture enough for me.”
He pictured sitting tied to a chair while Ensign Chris Brickman took off her camo shirt and poured water over her head because of the heat. Man oh man, he’d spill his secrets for the opportunity to see her completely naked and seated on his lap. His body reacted and his jeans tightened below the belt. Damn, the one woman he wanted more than anyone before and she didn’t go for the bad boys. But around her, he didn’t have to be one. He could be himself and she liked him better for it.
If his feelings had remained sa fely in “admiration and respect,” things would’ve been fine. But they hadn’t, and now it was too late.
Magic loved her, too. He’d stood there looking like a lost little boy and whispered how much he loved Brickman. Todd had meant more than just the deep bond between SEAL swim buddies. Retro understood he’d lost his chance.
Ghost and Magic communicated in ways most people, man to man or even man to woman, couldn’t in the civilian world. Retro’s jealousy had roared to the fore, but he’d kept it to himself after he’d considered everything. When most honest with himself, like at oh-dark-thirty when he couldn’t sleep, he admitted Magic was the better man for Ghost. Honorable, strong, and psychologically stable, Magic had it all.
And Retro? I’m a hot fucking mess, only good at being a SEAL. Dad made sure of it .
Sergeant James H. Wat ers beat everyone into submission if they didn’t follow his rules, his beliefs. He’d beaten his wife and daughter when they defied him in the smallest of infractions. Mom left with his little sister when Jim started his senior year of high school. They just disappeared, leaving him with the man who warned him to stay on the straight and narrow despite his “sexual perversions.”
Retro shied away from th e old thoughts like a man avoiding shrapnel. The past remained past, nothing he could do about it now.
But he could l et Chris go to the better man, who had a loving family. Chris deserved it. She deserved better than a broken bastard who feared his own dark needs, needs he’d told no one after his father beat it out of him.
He couldn’t subject Chris to them and he’d move heaven and earth to keep her safe from them, even if it meant tearing out his own heart.
Todd’s voice intruded, but Jim didn’t catch everything. “Say again?”
“I said let’s get somethin’ to eat before we come back. I don’t want her to wake up alone if I can help it.” Todd eyed him with a frown. “You okay?”
“Yeah, fine. What do you think of the master chief asking for her to instruct?” They stepped into the elevator to head for the cafeteria in the medical center. Not Retro’s favorite place to eat, but close enough for them to get back to her room quick.
“It’s a helluva thing.” Todd grinned. “She must’ve impressed the hell outta him all those years ago for him to request her. Shoot, she impressed the hell outta
When the door clicked shut, she took a deep breath and released her tears with a shuddering sob.
****
“It’s killing her,” Retro said as soon as they hit the hallway.
“Yeah, I know. ” Magic shoved his hands into his pockets.
“I’m not talking about the pain. I’m talking about being discharged from the Teams. It’s killing her.”
“She’s tougher than she looks, Retro. She’ll pull though.” Despite his words, Magic didn’t sound convinced. “Besides, she has torturing the new recruits to look forward to. Man, I’d give just about anything to be a fly on the wall when she does SERE to those boys.”
“Fuck.” Retro laughed. “ They’ll be blindsided, and it won’t be with her fist. It’ll be her ass and those tank tops she wears when it gets hot. Woowee, they were torture enough for me.”
He pictured sitting tied to a chair while Ensign Chris Brickman took off her camo shirt and poured water over her head because of the heat. Man oh man, he’d spill his secrets for the opportunity to see her completely naked and seated on his lap. His body reacted and his jeans tightened below the belt. Damn, the one woman he wanted more than anyone before and she didn’t go for the bad boys. But around her, he didn’t have to be one. He could be himself and she liked him better for it.
If his feelings had remained sa fely in “admiration and respect,” things would’ve been fine. But they hadn’t, and now it was too late.
Magic loved her, too. He’d stood there looking like a lost little boy and whispered how much he loved Brickman. Todd had meant more than just the deep bond between SEAL swim buddies. Retro understood he’d lost his chance.
Ghost and Magic communicated in ways most people, man to man or even man to woman, couldn’t in the civilian world. Retro’s jealousy had roared to the fore, but he’d kept it to himself after he’d considered everything. When most honest with himself, like at oh-dark-thirty when he couldn’t sleep, he admitted Magic was the better man for Ghost. Honorable, strong, and psychologically stable, Magic had it all.
And Retro? I’m a hot fucking mess, only good at being a SEAL. Dad made sure of it .
Sergeant James H. Wat ers beat everyone into submission if they didn’t follow his rules, his beliefs. He’d beaten his wife and daughter when they defied him in the smallest of infractions. Mom left with his little sister when Jim started his senior year of high school. They just disappeared, leaving him with the man who warned him to stay on the straight and narrow despite his “sexual perversions.”
Retro shied away from th e old thoughts like a man avoiding shrapnel. The past remained past, nothing he could do about it now.
But he could l et Chris go to the better man, who had a loving family. Chris deserved it. She deserved better than a broken bastard who feared his own dark needs, needs he’d told no one after his father beat it out of him.
He couldn’t subject Chris to them and he’d move heaven and earth to keep her safe from them, even if it meant tearing out his own heart.
Todd’s voice intruded, but Jim didn’t catch everything. “Say again?”
“I said let’s get somethin’ to eat before we come back. I don’t want her to wake up alone if I can help it.” Todd eyed him with a frown. “You okay?”
“Yeah, fine. What do you think of the master chief asking for her to instruct?” They stepped into the elevator to head for the cafeteria in the medical center. Not Retro’s favorite place to eat, but close enough for them to get back to her room quick.
“It’s a helluva thing.” Todd grinned. “She must’ve impressed the hell outta him all those years ago for him to request her. Shoot, she impressed the hell outta
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