“Wasp was a sailor,” Havoc said. “Spent too long on the boat; he’s not right in the head.”
Wasp flipped him off.
As we got back to work, I continued to ponder the future. I didn’t want to leave Mercy and Mom, but there was more to it than that. I was happy in Seattle. The walls didn’t feel like they were closing in on me anymore. Sure, I still occasionally caught myself looking for IEDs on the side of the road, but I’d grown comfortable here.
And I could see myself settling down with Mercy.
Of course, I’d have to get a real job. Volunteering at a preschool sure wouldn’t pay the bills, but maybe I could become an EMT or a fire fighter or something. Or, maybe I’d take advantage of the GI Bill and finally go to college and finally make my dad proud.
The possibilities were limitless, and for once, they didn’t seem suffocating, they felt freeing.
I was thinking about slipping out of the gym to go find Mercy and tell her about this breakthrough when shots were fired, sounding like they were right outside our building.
Havoc sprang to action, barking orders. “Wasp, Spade, Sage, split up and check on the classrooms. Stay with the kids. Landon and I will check out the rest of the building.”
The three nodded. We all jogged for the hall, and they split up as Havoc and I headed for Mercy’s office. She wasn’t there.
“Landon! Havoc!” Adina shouted from the reception desk. “Mercy’s outside!”
