Gage took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm his heart down to a normal rhythm.
“I’m going to my quarters,” he said. “Call me with an update on his condition.”
Roz didn’t move. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what happened,” he said.
“It was a misunderstanding,” he answered tightly.
Roz made an angry sound in the back of his throat. “No, it wasn’t.”
He stayed quiet.
“Gage,” Roz growled, “you’ve never been a liar. And you damn sure ain’t a good one.”
“Roz—”
“Why do you have scratch marks on your back?”
Gage’s stomach dropped.
Crap.
“I, uh…I must’ve brushed up against the side of the pool or something.”
Roz didn’t respond, but his silence was loud.
Heavy boots moving with precise, practiced speed and crackling radios rushed into the room and spread around him like a net.
Roz’s emergency call had triggered more than the medical response team.
Another man stopped a few feet away from him. His sudden arrival carried the scent of vintage cologne layered over bold roasted coffee, as if he’d been awake for hours and expected to be up a lot longer.
“Saint, I’m Chief Reyes. Security lead.”
His handshake was quick, strong, and professional. His deep voice all authority and confidence.
Gage pushed his middle fingers against his temples.
“Is all of this necessary? Adrian slipped and fell in the pool, and I helped him out. No big deal.”
“That’s bullshit,” Roz snapped. “You were fighting him. Why did he attack you? You wouldn’t’ve fought him unless you had no choice.”
“Roz, will you shut up for once,” he urged.
Chief Reyes didn’t seem to buy his denial either.
Reyes’s radio clicked. “Control, I have an assault on a Raven. Initiate Raven shield protocol and notify Jo. I want a SITREP on each unit, their handlers and personal staff, and a full scan of their quarters.”
Gage shook his head so hard it started to ache. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. This is crazy. It’s not that serious.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Reyes said, “But an assault on a Raven is as serious as it gets. I’m gonna’ need you to come with me, no arguments.”
Before Gage could refuse, the command PA sounded in the building.
“Raven Shield Protocol activated. Facility lockdown. All sectors hold position. Security sweep in progress.”
Gage faced Roz’s direction, fuming so loud it made his ears ring.
This wasn’t how he’d planned to spend his night.
