“What are you doing after?” Jason asked.
“I’m headed to North Carolina.”
“Yeah, she met a hot Army guy, and she’s hooking up with him,” Luis said.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not hooking up with him.”
“You’re going out there to stay with him. He’s taking you to his beach condo for a week.”
She waved off Luis’s words. “I don’t know what I’m doing with him. But I’m not hooking up. I mean, maybe we’ll sleep together, I don’t know.”
"How did you meet that hot Army guy?" Jason asked.
Ansley shrugged. “On my last deployment.”
"Really, how's that?" Mindy asked.
Ansley chuckled. “You know I can’t tell you the specifics.”
“So something bad happened,” Jason mused as he scratched his chin. “I was thinking about trying for Recon.”
“That is some tough shit,” Mindy said.
Luis nodded. “I heard it was nearly impossible to get into.”
“I did some translating work for Recon. They were badasses.” Everyone stared at her with open mouths like she’d said something crazy. “What?”
“You worked with Recon and never told us?” Jason said.
Ansley shrugged. "I didn't work with them, not really. I was in the room when they were watching videos or having meetings. I don't even remember what they were doing at the time. I just made sure all the translations were right. It wasn't a lot of work, but I worked with them for a few months. Then one time, they had to go in and needed a woman translator. I never saw action with them, but they took me around to different houses and I talked to the women."
“Wow,” Jason said. “Anything at all you can tell me, I’d appreciate it.”
She chuckled. "Whatever workouts you're doing, it's not enough. They are crazy strong, and it's more than just physical strength. They need mental strength, too."
Jason blew out a breath. “I should up my workout regimen then.”
“Yes. Work out more, and know that whatever you do, they are going to test your mind. They will make everything difficult just so it’s difficult.”
Jason shook his head. “I want to try, but I’m not sure I’m up to the task.”
“If you don’t make it, you’re still a badass,” Mindy said.
Jason chuckled. “Thanks. I try.”
They chatted about their times in the Marines together and Luis's life now. His dog was incredibly well behaved. He didn’t once try to eat from their plates. And though they had burgers and hot dogs in the kitchen, he didn’t even look that way. He was totally focused on Luis and making sure he was okay.
Her friends took off close to seven that evening, and Ansley wished they could have stayed later. She missed Link, though she hadn't known him for long. He'd already become a part of her life, and now that he was away on a mission, she wished she could talk to him and tell him about her time with her friends.
Soon enough, she would be in North Carolina, meeting his friends and learning about his life. It was scary to think about leaving the Marines, but she knew Link would help her adjust. The last four years had been tough. She wanted something different now, something she could only achieve if she followed her own desires.
Chapter 16
Link watchedBean and Stanley move to the door and place charges. He was set up on the roof of a building fifty yards away, ready to fire if anyone stepped out of those doors. The safety of his men was paramount. He would do anything for them, and he knew they would do the same for him.
They were in South America, and it was hot. He couldn’t wait to get home and spend a day in sweats and sweatshirts. The heat mixed with the humidity was brutal, and there wasn’t any wind to cool him. Wind was a mixed bag. It could alter the path of a bullet fired this far away if it was blowing hard. He didn’t have to worry about that today.
“Setting the charge,” Bean said before stepping away from the door. Stanley moved out of the way as the countdown started.
