Page 69 of Specter Bred

Cutter leaned back in his chair, shrugging and saying, "I haven't given up on him yet."

"What's your deal with Redwood? You didn't like him before you even met him. One look at his file and you tossed it aside," Alverez questioned.

I couldn't tell them why I disliked Redwood from the very, the moment I saw his last name on his file. I tried not to let that name bias me, but coupled with everything I'd seen from him, I would never select him for my unit.

"Yeah, the kid's talented," Cutter added.

“He is,” I agreed.

"One of the best in the class."

"Maybe."

Cutter frowned. “What does that mean?”

I stared down into my beer for a moment, but the amber liquid blurred beneath a sudden haze of smoke.

Blood.

Fire.

The memory pressed in just long enough for my focus to slip before I forced it back, blinking until the table came into focus again.

When I lifted my head, Cutter was still watching me, confusion written across his face.

“Talent doesn’t mean shit,” I grumbled, continuing before either of them interrupted.

"When things go sideways, I don't care how fast someone runs, how hard they hit, or how good their scores look on paper."

Neither man spoke.

"I care who they become when they're scared, embarrassed, or angry. Redwood put his hands on a teammate. That's not a man I want watching my back. And I'd bet every dollar I've got that when things get ugly, Redwood saves himself first."

Alvarez whistled softly.

"That's harsh."

"Maybe."

I took another drink.

"But I've seen enough of him to make that judgement."

My eyes drifted toward the window, the training grounds, and then the barracks where Hayes and Archer were probably getting ready to meet me for extra training.

“At least Hayes stood his ground earlier.”

Both men looked surprised.

“Farm Boy?” Cutter asked.

I nodded. “When he stepped in for Archer. Got between us, puffed his chest out, and decided he was going to tell me exactly what he thought.”

Alvarez let out a low laugh. “That kid has a death wish.”

“He knew exactly how badly that conversation could end for him,” I said as a reluctant smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Still, he opened his mouth, anyway.”

"Because he's stupid," Alvarez said with a snort.