Six months.” The commitment cost him. He’d be walking through his personal hell, but nobody needed, or for that matter, wanted, to know about those issues.
“A full six months starting the day you walk back through those doors.”
“Yeah, and in six months and one day I’ll be back in Mississippi.”
“Guarantee you won’t, but I’ll let you come to that decision by yourself.” Gabriel’s smugness irked him more than just a little bit, but damn it, Jason couldn’t hold it against him.
“I suppose I should thank you.”
“Have I ever been wrong?” Yep, smug to the tenth power.
“Yes, you put me in charge of Bravo Team.”
“Hell yes, I did, and I thank God I had the sense to do it, too. You saved them from dying in that transport and you brought home the majority of our men. If you hadn’t convinced those fuckers we’d pay big money for each member of the team, you’d be another IS YouTube video and a dead body statistic. There was absolutely nothing you could have done to prevent what happened to Collins and Santos.” Damn it. Gabriel was getting loud. Jason glanced back to make sure the door to the cabin area was shut. Not that it wouldn’t be, still, if anyone else heard that statement, well…
Jason shook his head. “Wish I could believe that.”
“I wish you could too. Anyway, I’m going to the back to tell Anna you’ve accepted. You can’t back out now, my friend.” Gabriel stood and gave him a stinging cuff to the shoulder, a love tap between warriors. On the way out of the cockpit, Gabriel said over his shoulder, “You made the right decision, Jason. You can’t run away from life.”
Jason gazed out at the vast expanse of crystal clear sky and whispered, “No, you certainly can’t.”
Chapter Three
Jason drove his new BMW into the bowels of Guardian’s secure parking complex. Granted, driving in D.C. was hazardous to a person’s health, but Jason had to laugh when Gabriel demanded he drive the hardened vehicle. Armor plating protected the underside, doors, and body of the car. Bulletproof glass and tires that ran flat. The car was a fucking M1A2 Abrams tank, but it handled well and had leg and head room. Major perk. At least he’d successfully shot down Gabriel’s order that he have a full-time security detail. As far as Jason was concerned, that wasn’t going to happen. He’d take precautions, but he’d be damned if he put up with babysitters. Fuck. That.
He processed through security. Present badge, sign-countersign, physical markers identified… the familiar routine was one he didn’t think he’d be completing again, and yet, here he was waiting for the second set of sealed doors to open to the secure area of the complex. Once in the hall, he flashed his access card across the elevator’s reader and was whisked to the executive level. The second floor. Contrary to every office building in the world, the levels occupied by the executives of Guardian had no windows, were constructed to withstand a bomb blast and had reinforced emergency egress halls hidden between offices to facilitate evacuation should the need arise.
The elevator door slid open. Jason glanced up and smiled. His brothers, Jacob and Jared, stood next to Gabriel. The three stooges or the welcome wagon, either way, the greeting meant more than Jason would ever admit.
“About fucking time you came home,” Jacob drawled.
“Not sure I’m staying. Just trying the job on for size, little man.” Jason’s taunt to his youngest brother earned him a massive bear hug.
“If you ask us, it’s a perfect fit. God, we missed you, Jason. Gabriel has been so fucking needy.”
Jared grabbed Jason as Jacob let loose and pulled him into a quick hug.
“Shut up, Jacob, before you get fired,” Jared growled as he pulled away.
“Again.” The automatic response came in unison from Jason and Gabriel.
“Assholes.” The laughter and comradery loosened the tension Jason hadn’t realized he’d carried
“A full six months starting the day you walk back through those doors.”
“Yeah, and in six months and one day I’ll be back in Mississippi.”
“Guarantee you won’t, but I’ll let you come to that decision by yourself.” Gabriel’s smugness irked him more than just a little bit, but damn it, Jason couldn’t hold it against him.
“I suppose I should thank you.”
“Have I ever been wrong?” Yep, smug to the tenth power.
“Yes, you put me in charge of Bravo Team.”
“Hell yes, I did, and I thank God I had the sense to do it, too. You saved them from dying in that transport and you brought home the majority of our men. If you hadn’t convinced those fuckers we’d pay big money for each member of the team, you’d be another IS YouTube video and a dead body statistic. There was absolutely nothing you could have done to prevent what happened to Collins and Santos.” Damn it. Gabriel was getting loud. Jason glanced back to make sure the door to the cabin area was shut. Not that it wouldn’t be, still, if anyone else heard that statement, well…
Jason shook his head. “Wish I could believe that.”
“I wish you could too. Anyway, I’m going to the back to tell Anna you’ve accepted. You can’t back out now, my friend.” Gabriel stood and gave him a stinging cuff to the shoulder, a love tap between warriors. On the way out of the cockpit, Gabriel said over his shoulder, “You made the right decision, Jason. You can’t run away from life.”
Jason gazed out at the vast expanse of crystal clear sky and whispered, “No, you certainly can’t.”
Chapter Three
Jason drove his new BMW into the bowels of Guardian’s secure parking complex. Granted, driving in D.C. was hazardous to a person’s health, but Jason had to laugh when Gabriel demanded he drive the hardened vehicle. Armor plating protected the underside, doors, and body of the car. Bulletproof glass and tires that ran flat. The car was a fucking M1A2 Abrams tank, but it handled well and had leg and head room. Major perk. At least he’d successfully shot down Gabriel’s order that he have a full-time security detail. As far as Jason was concerned, that wasn’t going to happen. He’d take precautions, but he’d be damned if he put up with babysitters. Fuck. That.
He processed through security. Present badge, sign-countersign, physical markers identified… the familiar routine was one he didn’t think he’d be completing again, and yet, here he was waiting for the second set of sealed doors to open to the secure area of the complex. Once in the hall, he flashed his access card across the elevator’s reader and was whisked to the executive level. The second floor. Contrary to every office building in the world, the levels occupied by the executives of Guardian had no windows, were constructed to withstand a bomb blast and had reinforced emergency egress halls hidden between offices to facilitate evacuation should the need arise.
The elevator door slid open. Jason glanced up and smiled. His brothers, Jacob and Jared, stood next to Gabriel. The three stooges or the welcome wagon, either way, the greeting meant more than Jason would ever admit.
“About fucking time you came home,” Jacob drawled.
“Not sure I’m staying. Just trying the job on for size, little man.” Jason’s taunt to his youngest brother earned him a massive bear hug.
“If you ask us, it’s a perfect fit. God, we missed you, Jason. Gabriel has been so fucking needy.”
Jared grabbed Jason as Jacob let loose and pulled him into a quick hug.
“Shut up, Jacob, before you get fired,” Jared growled as he pulled away.
“Again.” The automatic response came in unison from Jason and Gabriel.
“Assholes.” The laughter and comradery loosened the tension Jason hadn’t realized he’d carried
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