The Phoenix Read Free

with it. How could he be, given the circumstances? When, for reasons he could never adequately explain, he felt as if his comrades had quite literally taken heat that was meant for him.
    Improbable as it would seem, given his chosen profession, Jay had never given much thought to his mortality, but after that little occurrence he’d become distractingly, unhealthily obsessed with it. Though he knew it was unreasonable, he’d come to the bizarre conclusion that he wouldn’t be so lucky the next time. And luck, he’d realized, that mystical, magical thing that had always seemed to rest on his shoulders and ensure that, whatever reckless situation he charged into, he would be safe, had gotten other people hurt this time.
    It was unacceptable, horrifying.
    Had he shared these thoughts with anyone? No. He had trouble enough admitting them to himself. Sharing them was out of the question, a fact that had extremely annoyed Colonel Carl Garrett, who’d ultimately recommended him to Ranger Security. In truth, he understood Garrett’s frustration. When a career soldier whom the army had spent considerable time and money training suddenly announced that he wanted to leave, an explanation was surely wanting. But how could he explain something he didn’t fully understand? He only knew that he couldn’t do the job anymore.
    And an ineffective soldier got people killed.
    He couldn’t have that on his conscience.
    Jay glanced at the clock, then exited the car and made his way around the building to the front entrance. A cold wind whipped through the bare trees lining the streets and rattled the branches, sending a flock of birds into the pearly-gray sky. Winter’s only purpose was to make one appreciate spring, Jay thought, huddling deeper into his jacket.
    He pushed into the office into a welcoming wall of heat. He noted serviceable commercial carpet, quality leather furniture and a bit of high-end art. The desk was neat and tidy, suggesting excellent organizational skills. A small Latino man produced the obligatory smile upon his entrance, but it never met his eyes. They were cool and assessing and, though it was ridiculous, Jay felt that he’d already managed to offend the man in some way.
    “Jay Weatherford?”
    He nodded.
    “I’m Juan Carlos, the office manager,” he announced with equal parts long-suffering and pride. “If you’ll come with me, the triumvirate is waiting for you in the boardroom.”
    The triumvirate? That was an interesting way to refer to the bosses, though he supposed for the legendary Rangers it was as good a moniker as any. Jamie Flanagan, Guy McCann and Brian Payne were still the subject of battlefield and locker-room lore.
    With an IQ supposedly bordering on genius, Jamie had the brain to go with the considerable brawn. He’d been quite the player until he’d met and married Colonel Garrett’s granddaughter. Known in certain circles as the Specialist, Brian Payne had an unmatched attention to detail and cool, unflappable calm that had set a precedent new recruits were still trying to reach. Guy McCann’s maverick style skated the thin line between genius and stupidity, but he possessed instincts that were almost providential and the man never failed to come out of any situation on top.
    Individually, they were formidable. Together, they were a force to be reckoned with.
    Though he’d never heard the particulars about why the three had left the military and started the security company, rumor suggested that an unsuccessful mission that resulted in the death of a dear friend had prompted the untimely departure. He could certainly understand that. The hardest part about his own impromptu career change was leaving behind the friends he’d made along the way. Battle created an unmatched sense of brotherhood, forged bonds that were, in some cases, stronger than blood. He mentally grimaced.
    That had certainly been the case between him and his younger brother. To his regret, he and Carson had never