Page 103 of Specter Bred

"I heard whispers about that, but it was before my time."

Cutter nodded.

"The recruit's name was Stephanie Graves."

My stomach dropped.

“Major Graves’ sister?"

"Yes," Alvarez confirmed. "His younger sister."

"Grizzly was the one who pushed for her to train after she got tapped. Thought she had what it took," Cutter added.

Alvarez picked up from there.

"She made it almost to the end of training."

"Then something happened here at the outpost," Cutter said. "We don’t know what."

"But near the end of Phase Two, out of the blue, she withdrew herself," Alvarez added.

"And two months later…"

Cutter’s jaw tightened.

"She took her own life."

Alvarez exhaled through his nose.

"Graves doesn't talk about it. She didn't leave a note. No one knows exactly what happened—"

Alvarez cut him off, "It's not worth guessing. Graves knows, and that’s his business, and his buisiness only."

Cutter shrugged.

"So when you showed up, and Command wanted to slot you into the squad bay, Graves fought against it."

I stared at them as the pieces shifted into place. It wasn’t Command. It had never been Command. It had always been Graves.

Cutter met my eyes, his expression unreadable.

"You might think he’s an asshole."

I let out a dry laugh. That was putting it mildly.

"Hell," Alvarez cut in, crossing his arms, "I thought he was an asshole when I first met him too. Over a decade ago. Joint op. First time I worked with him."

He paused before adding, "Still do sometimes."

He glanced toward the other recruits who had already ‌gathered in the squad bay, grabbing bunks and putting their packs in trunks.

"But one thing I learned quickly? Everything Graves does, he’s got a reason for it."

Cutter nodded in agreement.

Alvarez’s eyes narrowed.

"If he kept you separate, there was a reason. A good one."