Page 23 of What I Should Have Done

As I clamped my teeth together, Bernie’s gaze darted over my shoulder. Following his line of sight, I knew why he immediately changed the subject. Mikey walked our way. The brightness in his eyes wasn’t quite back, but he was moving.

“Gym. I’m still trying to get Mikey to spill how he got his call sign,” I quipped, hoping that Mikey would hear that and forget I’d asked about his tattoos. A tight smile pulled onto Blondie’s face and relief flooded my senses. He’d heard.

And didn’t seem too upset…

“So, you’re up for squats now?” Mikey asked, lightheartedly joining us. Bernie didn’t say a thing, nor did Mikey about what had happened. Not even a look was shared between the two. As if it never happened, neither of them acknowledged the strange situation.

“Well, I lost at a thumb war, several times, so I’ve gotta try something else!” I teased, attempting to distract my own mind from the question blooming into several more questions by each passing second.

Bernie leaned his head back and cackled. “And you think you’ll beat Mikey in squats? Griffin was the only one who managed to out squat this guy. He’s got that sleeper build, I’ll tell you. Though, I’ve got him on bench.” He grinned.

Mikey shook his head. “By like five pounds. And I’m coming for you quickly.”

“Shit,” I mumbled. “How about that arm wrestle, then?”

Bernie clutched his stomach, doubling over in laughter like it was obvious. “Even worse of a fucking idea than squats.”

Narrowing my gaze, I shot a glare at Mikey. “You wanted me to fail. Didn’t you?”

His eyes sparkled as a crooked grin tightened the dimples in his cheeks. “Hell yeah.”

“Well, fuck you, Blondie.” And I flipped him off.

He chuckled, a deep sound that vibrated low in his chest, and fanned a flame pooling in my core. My skin prickled, goosebumps snapping across my entire figure as a chill ran down my spine.

I liked that sound. I wanted to hear it again. And more so, I wanted him to laugh like that with my body pressed against his so I could feel it. To be devoured by every part of him as he laughed. That desire rushed through me like an all-consuming fire that was out of control. And my figure was drowning in his ocean eyes.

A guttural sound left Bernie’s throat, snapping me out of the brief trance I’d been caught in. “You want to hear the story? I’ll tell you what fucking happened,” Bernie offered. Yet Mikey had not looked away, keeping whatever small hold over my gaze latched onto his.

“Sure,” I mumbled, not really sure how that word left my own mouth. Mikey’s chest expanded slowly, broadening his already wide shoulders. His lips parted half a centimeter and mine mirrored his movement on their own.

Bernie, whether actually oblivious to what was happening silently between Mikey and me or choosing to be, he clamped a hand on Mikey’s shoulder. “It was our first mission with this guy as a tier one operator. He snuck up on a target and wrapped an arm around the combatant, locking the enemy to his chest.”

Mikey slowly tipped his head, his eyes searing into my soul, and for whatever reason, I didn’t try to stop him from staring.

“Another damn insurgent caught the tail end of Mikey dragging his buddy backwards, so he ran after them. Anyway, next thing I know, Mikey’s surrounded by three assailants while keeping the fourth fucker locked to his chest. The three engage Mikey, they all get in a fight. I’m trying to set a fucking explosive while watching all these damn limbs flying, punches being thrown. You know, all the shit that he clearly does best. All of a sudden, Mikey bites down on the target’s throat. He fucking bites him and rips a chunk out of his neck.” Bernie grins as a wave of unexplainable heat races through my body.

“Like a snake attacking. Like a Viper,” I finished, and Bernie nodded.

“Exactly. Anyway, I never heard such a horrifying scream. Mikey’s got all this fucking blood around his mouth and he grins. Mikey fucking grins, Crow. I’m so distracted from what I’m supposed to be doing ’cause here’s this damn new member of our team, who ripped a dude’s fucking throat apart by his teeth, grinning like a madman.”

Mikey shrugged his shoulders, finally peeling his eyes away from me. “My hands were already occupied. What else was I supposed to fucking do?”

Bernie cackled, drawing attention from a couple passing soldiers. “Fair point.”

“You’re being serious,” I said, not sure if it was shock and awe or merely disbelief over the story.

“Damn serious,” Bernie finished. He wiggled his brows as an image of Mikey gone mad, grinning like the joker with blood all over his mouth and teeth flashed through my head.

“Well, shit. And you still kissed your mom after, with that dirty mouth of yours?” I teased.

Mikey casually tipped his head back. “Well, she’s dead. So, no.”

Silence.

Stillness surrounded us like death had arrived to take me away.

“Breathe, Scottie,” Mikey gently urged. “It’s not a big deal, trust me.”

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