He closed his eyes, nodded his head. “Boomer…I?—”
“Move,” Iceman said.
They did. It sounded like his boot leg was getting antsy for some ass-kicking.
Out in the field, he clamped down on everything, almost got to that cold zero place. His brothers’ lives were on the line, and he would never jeopardize them for anything. The place turned out to be a dry hole, and no one was more disappointed than Carver and Jones.
When they got back to HQ, Breakneck cleaned his rifle, stripped out of his gear and hit the rack, pretending he was asleep when Boomer and the guys came in. He couldn’t dredge up any words for what an idiot he was. In the morning, after chow, he put on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and boots, and headed for the barn. Before he could get out of the TOC, Ayla slipped into his path.
“I’m going to say this with the utmost respect. Pull your head out of your ass.”
He laughed at her tone.
“Stop making it weird between us. I’m good. We’re good. We have to work together, and let’s just pretend that never happened. All right?”
“You’re going to make some man a happy guy when you find one worthy of you, Ayla.”
“Don’t I know it. Now can we shake and be friends again?”
He reached out his hand, loving her confidence and sass. She took it and smiled.
“Am I now free to go?” he teased.
“Yes, but you’re being hunted by the team, so you better lie low.”
Before he got halfway there, Boomer grabbed the back of his neck and marched him toward the corral fence. Kodiak slipped around to the other side as if he was going to try to make a run for it. “Oh, no, you don’t. You just recovered from that muscle spasm. No hay hauling for you.”
“You guys never let me have any fun,” he groused. Then he saw the rest of the team waiting. “What the hell?”
“It’s an intervention. I remember you freely giving advice for the lovelorn during our trials and tribulations with our significant others. You’re going to spill your guts.”
Breakneck stopped dead, digging in his heels. “Boom, Boom. I can’t…. No.”
“Falling apart is the first step,” Boomer said. “You know that. You saw me.”
Kodiak chuckled. “Oh, God, and it’s not fun at all,” he whispered.
Breakneck ducked under Boomer’s arm and made a break for it, vaulting the corral fence and heading for the hills. He looked back. Fuck they were all as fit as he was. How was he going to outrun a bunch of determined SEALs? Through panic and fear. That was how. He increased his speed, but it didn’t matter.
Skull tackled him, took him down hard. Breakneck came up fighting. Then he was overwhelmed by muscle and steel. He went down flailing. He could only hope they suffocated him to death. But no such luck.
“What the hell is going on with you?” Boomer demanded.
Without meaning to, he blurted it out, the anger surging like gas building up in a closed room. “Derrick is my real father!” he shouted. Then he screamed again, like he had in the forest, as if he was being gutted. It echoed off the rocks and trees.
Everything stilled. Talon was in his corral, and he wheeled around, galloped toward the fence and jumped it in one swift, flying leap. The big Palomino moved across the open space toward him, and the guys scattered as the horse screamed his rage.
Breakneck didn’t move. He waited for him, then held up his hands. When the gelding reached him, he stopped dead, then moved toward him, putting his body between him and his teammates.
Breakneck buried his face in the horse’s neck, and just breathed, holding back the hot tears, the sobs trapped in his throat he wanted desperately to let loose. He swallowed hard, then simply dropped beside the horse. He wasn’t alone for long. Kodiak coaxed Talon away, and now that Breakneck was quiet and contained, he started to crop grass, but with vigilance.
Beef was almost to them with a halter. He eyed them. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” Boomer said. “We just need a few moments.”
He nodded, glancing at Breakneck. Then smiled. “Geezus, kid, you can run.” He ruffled Breakneck’s hair as he passed, and Breakneck’s throat tightened. Fucking Mountie.
“Apparently, not fast enough,” he grumbled. Beef haltered the horse, and he fought, but Breakneck just said, “Talon, boy. It’s okay. Beef’s going to give you some grain.” Then he gave Beef a stern look. “Don’t make a liar out of me.”
