“Are you going to contribute to the conversation or keep standing there like a statue?” Ben snapped, pulling him from his thoughts.
The team was once again gathered in the war planning room trying to figure out what to do about the recent breach. Neither Aaron nor Abigail could trace it. Cora had been combing through security footage around base, but the visitor list was small and going through each service member on and off the base during the breach window was painstakingly slow.
“You seem to have everything covered.”
While Aaron focused on the breach, the others started planning for the next mission. But Mike couldn’t seem to focus.. All he saw were green eyes looking heartbroken and filled with unshed tears. He should have been staring at a map of rugged terrain they’d have to navigate through, but all he could think of was Destiny’s luscious curves and dark hair.
Ben pushed back from the table and crowded Mike’s space. “What is your deal?”
“Nothing.”
“You haven’t been focused for days now. You’re here but you’re not, so again I ask: what is your deal?”
“It’s personal.” He didn’t want to get into with his teammates. It didn’t affect them.
Ben glared him down as if he were the taller one, planting his fists on his hips. He was pissed, Mike couldn’t say he fully blamed him. His inattention could cost someone their life. If not his own. “Normally I’d drop it, but you’ve been unfocused the past four days. You come to the meetings, but you don’t contribute or even pay attention to what’s going on. So now your personal issue is becoming a work issue. Is it Destiny? Did she break up with you or something?”
“What are we girlfriends?” Mike snapped. “I’m out of here. Let me know when the plane leaves.”
“Don’t you dare walk away from us,” Ben’s voice cracked like a whip, making Mike wince. He stood still even though every fiber of his body wanted to walk away. Go home and lick his wounds. He was hurting. His heart, his head. He’d barely slept over the past few days, worrying about Destiny. About their relationship. “There are no secrets in our group, Tiny,” Ben referred to him using his nickname. Partially a play on words since he was big and also for the fact he could fit into tiny places. Ben only referred to him like that when they were on a mission, or he was upset. It was like a parent using first and middle name on a misbehaving child.
“Secrets kill the team,” Mike mumbled.
It was their age-old saying. They could keep secrets from the world, but not from the team. Secrets got teams killed.
“That’s right. If you’re not focused, you’re going to get someone killed.”
“I am focused.” He wasn’t.
Ben didn’t look like he believed him for a second. “Oh yeah, where is our entrance point?”
Mike glanced down at the map on the table as if it would reveal the answer to him. “The south.”
Ben shook his head. Ben was right, he was going to get someone killed at this rate. He didn’t know anything about what they were doing on this mission now. He flopped down on the chair. “I’m unfocused.” It was a statement, so he wasn’t expecting a response, but he got one, nonetheless.
“No shit, Sherlock. Alright, let’s have it out so we can get back to what’s important.” It wasn’t an insult that his personal problems weren’t important, so Mike didn’t take it personally. The mission should always come first. That’s where his attention should be. Not what he’d done to push Destiny away. But Ben was right. His personal problems were now interfering with the team.
“I think Destiny dumped me.”
“You think?” Ben asked.
“That was fast.” Liam chuckled.
Mike was out of his chair and halfway across the table for Liam’s throat before Ben grabbed him. It took Heath and Aaron to pull him back.
“Jesus, man. It was a joke.” Liam stumbled back in fear.
“You don’t talk about her like that. Ever,” Mike spat. He tried shrugging out of his friends arms, but they held him in a viselike grip.
“I’m sorry, man. I didn’t think you guys were that serious.”
“He’s walking around like a zombie and affecting the team, and you thought it wasn’t serious?” Heath shook his head in disgrace.
Liam didn’t have a response to that.
“You good now?” Aaron asked Mike.
He nodded. He was still pissed at Liam, but he wasn’t in danger of another thrashing. As long as the fucker kept his mouth shut. Everyone let him go and Mike reclaimed his seat. Instead of sitting in the chair next to him, Ben leaned against the table looking at him.
