Page 119 of Specter Bred

I cleared my throat.

"So... are we getting briefed now, or is standing in the woods in awkward silence part of the exercise, sir?"

Graves’s eyes cut to me. “I’m starting to build my unit. I’ve been considering candidates for a while, but before I make a final decision, I need to see them in the field. Training tells me what you’re capable of. It doesn’t tell me what you’ll do when the bullets are real and the consequences are permanent.”

That got my attention fast, and Maeve’s too.

Graves looked between us. “Last night, I asked both of you whether this thing between us would make us stronger or turn us into liabilities. You gave me your answer.” He paused. “Now I need to see if you were right.”

Maeve stared at him.

Then her brows pulled together. “Wait. I’m sorry. Are you saying you’re considering us for your unit?”

Graves looked at her like she was several steps behind a conversation he’d already finished. “What the hell did you think ‘you’re both mine’ meant?”

Maeve’s mouth opened, then closed.

I probably should have kept mine shut.

“Sir, I think Archer’s still suffering from emotional whiplash.”

Her head snapped toward me. “Hayes.”

“In her defense, there was a lot happening last night. Violence. Feelings. Possessive declarations.” I shrugged. “Apparently a job offer.”

Graves gave me a look. “You done?”

“Almost, sir. Just wanted to say your recruitment process could use some work.”

“Hayes.”

“Done, sir.”

Maeve elbowed me hard enough to shut me up, but I caught the brief twitch at the corner of Graves’s mouth before his attention returned to her.

“I already know you two can work together. I’ve watched you do it for months. And now the three of us have decided this,” he gestured between us, “makes us stronger. Fine. I’m willing to believe that. But believing it and proving it under fire are two different things.”

The humor disappeared from my expression.

“I need to see how the three of us operate when there’s no training course, no other instructors, and no safety net. I need to know whether what works between us here still works when it matters.” Graves looked between us. “That’s what I’m testing.”

Maeve was quiet for a moment before the full implication seemed to settle over her.

“And if it works?” she asked.

Graves didn’t hesitate.

“Then I’ve found the members of my unit.”

Well, heck.

I was still trying to wrap my head around that when I looked from Graves to Maeve and found them staring at each other again. Of course they were. Those two could turn staring into a contact sport.

“Okay, I’m gonna say it. This feels less like training and more like I’m third-wheeling something dangerous.”

Maeve elbowed me in the ribs.

“Ow. See? Dangerous.”