Page 40 of Knot Guilty

“You knew about Brock, didn’t you?”

Aaron doesn’t say anything. That he’s not even asking what he’s supposed to have known proves that Maxen was telling the truth. “Shit, Aaron. Why the hell didn’t anyone say something?”

“Would it have mattered?” he demands. “Brock didn’t think so, and that’s why he kept his mouth shut. Gates should have done the same.”

I don’t ask why he assumes Maxen told me as I slump to my sofa, stunned. I had been expecting, hoping for Aaron to deny the words. I wasn’t prepared for them to be confirmed. “All this time. The teasing. I would have been more careful if I’d known.”

“That’s why he didn’t say anything, dammit! He didn’t want you to feel weird or change who you were around him. Look, I’ve got to go, Sadie. I’ll see you Monday.”

Aaron hangs up, and I pull my phone away and stare at the screen. I feel like I’m caught in some alternate universe. Everything I know has been called into question as if I’ve been sleepwalking around these people I thought I cared so much about.

What else am I forcing people to hide?

When I wake in the morning, I don’t want to get out of bed. Knot isn’t expecting any of us to show up today, but the thought of being stuck in this apartment with only my thoughts is enough to chase me from the covers.

I’m dressed and headed to work in half an hour. In the gym, I walk past a somber Chelsea and Bastien to reach the weight benches. Apparently, I’m not the only one that can’t handle solitude.

The rest of my squad, minus Zach, are also in the busy gym. A gym that sees no one joking or laughing today. Spotting them grouped together, I detour in their direction. I haven’t seen or spoken to any of them since the day we left for Afghanistan.

It’s clear by the slump of their shoulders and dark circles under their eyes that they all know about Brock and are hurting. He had, until recently, been one of them. “What happened over there, Fate?” Beckett asks.

“What always happens when money’s involved? Politicians put a rush on things, and troops are sent without enough equipment or intel.”

Dani, who spent time in the White House as secret service, stiffens and walks away, swearing under her breath. She’s all too familiar with asshole politicians and doesn’t even like discussing them. That’s why she joined our outfit in the first place.

“Did somebody fuck up? Is that why Brock got killed?”

I zero in on Nick after his growled question but not in anger. “Nobody fucked up.”

I don’t tell him that a simple thermal scan could have prevented Brock’s death. Nick, Beckett, and Cade walk away then, Cade being the only one that hasn’t spoken. Shoving thoughts of the mission and Brock back into the deep recesses of my mind, I step up onto a treadmill and start a long run.

Maxen walks in later while I’m changing machines, but he keeps his distance, sticking to the floor mats on the other side. Shortly after he gets started, an angry shout from the door pulls everyone’s eyes upward.

Aaron stumbles in, bleary-eyed and unsteady on his feet. I’ve never seen him like this. He storms up to Maxen, yelling as he approaches. “You just had to run your fucking mouth, didn’t you?”

I’m on my feet instantly, crossing to their side of the room. Before I can reach him, Aaron takes a shot at Maxen. The blow is powerful but is off-target in its delivery. To his credit, Maxen doesn’t return fire.

Aaron sets to swing again, but I grab his arm. Without looking back, he shakes me off, and I end up tripping over his foot. I fall into a weight rack, sending a loaded barbell crashing onto me. That’s when Maxen goes on the attack.

He rushes Aaron, taking them both to the floor, all while I’m scrambling to untangle myself from the felled weights. I get up finally and look around for something to break them up. There isn’t room to wade in and grab them, not without the risk of becoming a victim of their collective rage.

Across the room, I spot a fire extinguisher and make a mad dash for it, pulling the pin during my sprint back. Maxen has just gained the upper hand against Aaron and is now straddling his middle, poised to throw a punch. Aaron gets his fingers wrapped around a five-pound dumbbell, and I press the lever before either of them can strike.

Icy cold carbon dioxide frosts the two hot heads and quickly puts an end to the fight. Now that it’s safe, I fist my hand in Maxen’s shirt and pull while Nick and Cade rush in, grabbing a belligerent Aaron and dragging him out from underneath.

I let go of Maxen and throw the fire extinguisher on the floor. Only then does Aaron stop resisting the two Mack trucks holding him back and notice me standing there. His glassy eyes take in my busted knuckles from yesterday, and then his eyes freeze in their inspection.

Aaron’s anger is replaced with remorse, and he goes limp in our team members’ grip. “Sadie?”

I glance down to see what’s caught his attention. Blood runs down the length of my arm, likely a cut from colliding with the equipment. Realizing Aaron’s no longer out of control, Cade and Nick let him go, and Aaron takes a step toward me. His face is drawn and full of shame. “Sadie, I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing,” I tell him.

Maxen steps in front of me when Aaron gets close. He’s practically vibrating when he growls, “Get your drunk ass out of here before you do any more damage.”

With a last sorrowful glance at me, Aaron spins for the door, and Cade turns to follow. “I’ll make sure he gets home,” he says.

Maxen turns and takes my hand, leading me to the first aid station on the wall. Those left in the room do not miss the contact. I guess everyone knows now. “I’m fine, Maxen. It was barely a scratch. I’m more worried about Aaron.”

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