“Yep. International affairs and human rights.”
Whistling, I reach my tolerance for the cold and snow and push to my feet. “Want to pour one out for Gil sometime next week?”
“I wish I could. The President’s sending me on this bullshit publicity tour. I’m supposed to convince a dozen foreign governments that we don’t torture people anymore.”
My snort escapes before I can stop it, and over the line, Austin snaps a warning, “Trev.”
“I know, I know. Officially, we don’t condone any acts of torture. But you and I both know we still have plenty of black sites all over the world. I’m not having this debate with you.” Shutting my patio door, I head back to my darkened bedroom.
“And you don’t need to. Fucking hell, Trev. What Gil did to me... What he told me he did to dozens of others. What happened to Richards. McCabe. Holloway. Do you really think I condone that shit?”
“No! I never did.” Frustration and a hint of shame start to warm my chilled skin, and I sink back onto the mattress and rest my elbows on my knees. “How long’s the trip?”
“Three weeks. I leave day after tomorrow. I’ll call you when I’m back.” And with that, the call disconnects.
Fuck. I don’t have a lot of friends, outside of the men and women at Second Sight, the security and investigations firm I work for. And I just insulted one of the few people I know I can always count on. Tossing the phone on the nightstand, I sink back against the pillows and try for the sleep I know won’t come.
* * *
Walkinginto Second Sight knowing Dax isn’t here is odd. He and his new wife, Evianna, are spending a week in Canada with Ripper, Cara, Ryker, and Wren. Watching the three couples get married just a couple of days ago made me feel almost…normal.
After rescuing Ford’s fiancée, Joey, from Afghanistan, discovering Ripper’d been held there for six years and tortured so brutally he didn’t even remember who he was, then pulling off an extraction the likes of which belongs in a fucking movie, I feel like I’ve found where I belong. Even if I don’t really know how to act around any of them. Not really. Not after being bounced from foster home to foster home. When my dad died, I was only eight, and the system swallowed me up and never let me go. Too many times, I thought maybe I’d found my family, only to have the system yank me back again.
I nod at Ford as I head to the coffee machine. I couldn’t get back to sleep after talking to Austin last night and I’m intent on two things this morning. Caffeine, and silence.
Until I see a flash of gold on his hand. I stop mid-pour, the coffee teasing me with its rich scent, but this is more important. “Uh, Ford?”
He arches a brow, but the hint of a smile tells me he knows exactly what I’m going to ask. “Morning, Trev.”
“Want to tell me about that?” I nod towards the hand he has braced on his hip.
“Private little ceremony on the beach in San Diego.” He grins, using his thumb to twist the ring around his finger. “Felt so wrong to take this off in Snoqualmie, but after what the three of them went through…”
“It was their day.” I top off my cup, then offer to fill Ford’s as well. “So, tell me about it.”
He leans against the counter, his hands shoved into his pockets. “Joey didn’t want anything fancy. Just her mom, her sister Geri, and Geri’s husband.” Ford’s eyes take on a warmth I hadn’t seen until he found Joey again, and he shakes his head. “Should have happened twenty years ago. Now, everything feels…right.”
Sliding the coffee pot back under the machine, I meet his gaze. “Everything was right the moment the two of you saw one another again. Congratulations, Ford.” I clap him on the shoulder, the closest I ever get to a hug, and smile. “And make sure Joey knows if you ever fuck up, she can call me to kick your ass.”
He laughs, and I muster just enough energy to join in before heading for my office with my coffee cupped protectively in my hands. As happy as I am for Second Sight’s co-owner and his new bride, I’ve reached the limit of my ability to handle small talk.
Dammit. It’s been five years. I should be…better. I should at least be able to sleep through the fucking night. But somehow, seeing my friends find their forevers has made the nights since ten times worse.
Dax, Ryker, and Ripper are brothers in every sense of the word. When they’re together, it’s so obvious, it’s painful. I had that once. Now, my best friend’s dead—by my hand—and Austin? Last night broke something between us. Or at least damaged it. The bond we shared was forged through shared pain. I didn’t think anything was strong enough to sever it.
Turns out, I’m an idiot.
So I’ll hide out in my office and catch up on all of the emails waiting for me after a few days spent across the country. Maybe after that, chasing a lonely dinner with three or four shots of vodka won’t sound like such a bad idea.
Chapter Two
Dani
I should have known betterthan to try to work today. I spent half the night staring at the ceiling and the other half pacing with occasional breaks to pull out the flash drive Gil sent me right before he died.
And then at 5:00 a.m., I finally opened it.
Luis Rojas.
