Then I met Josh.A handful of us were debating a topic at an LA party we were randomly invited to.I noticed him watching me.Two hours later he hit me up and offered me a job.
“I own Black Hawke Security.”
“I know who you are,” I laughed.“Fuck, everyone does.”
Anyone who was paying attention, that is.
Typical SEAL, he hadn’t cared.Those guys have their egos ripped out of them and sent back to their mommas.As do the Marines and all the other special forces.
“Heard you have some skills with drones.”
I felt my days as an Air Force pilot were coming to a natural end, so as we talked and he ran some numbers past me, I felt fate tapping me on the shoulder.
I took his card and rang him three days later.
Unfortunately, Jayden chose not to join, having just interviewed with the corporate organization he now works for.
Something happened while he was on one of his last assignments.He won’t talk about it.Can’t talk about it.So maybe it's not the house purchase that drove him into a fucking desk job.
“I’m going into sales.”
I’d literally spat beer all down the front of me.“You’re what?”
“Sales,” Jayden replied, firm and sure.“Nice desk job.A laptop, expense account, SUV and working with people who aren’t trying to kill me.”
“We don’tworkwith the enemy.”
“Who even is the fucking enemy, Liam?Haven’t you asked yourself that over and over?We get sent into dangerous terrain like we’re toy fucking soldiers.Many of us don’t return.”
I couldn’t argue.
We sat in that bar that night for a long time, not talking, just drinking.Finally, I turned to him.
“You should take the job.”
“Yup.”
And that was that.He started selling air conditioning units, and I started at BHS.
While he was talking temperatures and remotes, I was busy working on a sex trafficking case with Jake, who is a former US Marshal, and the FBI, which resulted in catching the motherfucker.
Jayden didn’t seem to miss the action and feeling of doing something with purpose.Then again, I know he’s good at hiding his feelings when he wants.
He’s hiding something.
That I know.
Picking up the drone and sliding the tablet into my bag, I head to the weapons area and sign out a Glock.
“See ya later, bitches,” I say, tucking the gun into my waistband and wave out my hand.
“Don’t break the drone!”Travis calls as I push open the door.
“Stop calling them bitches.”Aidan grabs the door from me and grins.
“They love it.”I laugh.As I pass reception, I give Penny a wink.“No muffins today?”
“My grandkids ate them all yesterday.”
