Page 58 of Hazard

“I’m busy right now. It can wait.”

“No,” she said in her best prosecutor’s tone, ignoring Hazard’s attempt to warn her off with a quick shake of his head. “It can’t.” She grabbed his arm and hauled him to a stop. Her jaw was fixed, and the first flickering of anger and protectiveness tightened her chest. This man was everything to her, and she wasn’t going to back down an inch if she could save him some grief.

“Last time I looked, Hazard doesn’t hide in any woman’s skirts,” Iceman snarled at the rebuke in her eyes.

Hazard ran his hand over his face, and she knew by the expression in his eyes that he didn’t know whether to be amused or ticked off over her going to bat for him.

“Nice try,” Leigh scoffed. “Hazard is man enough and confident enough to know that I wouldn’t expect him to hide in my skirts. I’m very sure he can hold his own. I am giving you my argument against punitive action. He may feel differently.” Apparently, he did. He released a long, suffering sigh.

“Punitive action?” Iceman’s eyes narrowed. “Is that lawyer-speak for me chewing his ass?”

Hazard opened his mouth, and Iceman shook him hard, his eyes never wavered from Leigh’s. Damn, he was an intimidating bastard. But she’d looked dangerous criminals in the eyes, and she wasn’t backing down here.

“If you want to use the vernacular and that’s the way you want to interpret it. I wouldn’t presume to lecture you, Master Chief.”

“Oh, don’t Master Chief me, Leigh Waterford, Esquire,” he said. “It was a reckless and ill-advised order.”

“You said, and I quote, ‘If she issues an order, it’s like it’s coming from me.’”

“She’s got you there, boss,” Boomer said with a smirk. Iceman flicked a look toward Boomer, and the smirk immediately disappeared, and he moved away quickly.

Iceman let go of the back of Hazard’s vest, his mouth tightening. He stepped up to her, all that lethal quality of him contained in that rough and ready package, but she wasn’t cowed. She was fighting for her man, and there wasn’t anything that could deter her from that course. Not even Iceman.

“Well, if it’s okay with you, I’m going to have a chat with my man here—Master Chief to Petty Officer, and in the vernacular—leader to subordinate. Just so you understand.”

She lifted her chin. “Technically, I'm the leader here, and if I tell you that I was the one who ordered Petty Officer Booth to accompany me on that side mission, that should be enough.”

“Side mission?” he said, his tone now quiet and dangerous. “That was a clusterfuck of a goatfuck.”

She didn’t even blink an eye. “I’m not really sure what that means,” she said stridently. “But we succeeded. We got Alzate.”

“I’m not disputing the outcome, Miss Esquire. I’m exerting my command prerogative to discuss Petty Officer Booth’s decision-making skills. He needs an adjustment.” He grabbed Hazard again and started to march him toward the empty room.

“I’m lodging an official objection to your action,” she yelled after him.

He didn’t even turn around, just shoved Hazard through, and said in that low, seething voice, “Duly noted.” Then he slammed the door.

Skull came around her, staring at her. He stuck out his hand, and she shook it with defeat at not getting Hazard off the hook. “Wow, I have never seen anyone but his wife, Rose, talk to Iceman like that, not even the brass. I think they’re all a little afraid of him.”

Preacher burst out laughing. “I don’t think Chris appreciated your logic, Leigh, but I’m tickled pink that you put him in his place. That was deftly done, even though Ice doesn’t give a damn.”

“Yeah, he’s like one of those icebreaker ships that notes there’s ice but plows through anyway. That was priceless,” Kodiak said.

“You’re my hero, Leigh,” Breakneck said.

“I’m so glad this is all so amusing to you while Hazard is getting in trouble for something I did,” she said with exasperation.

The door opened and Iceman bellowed. “Don’t you all have something to do?” Then he slammed the door again, continuing on with his tirade without missing a beat. It was telling how intuitive he was, knowing that they were all out here commenting on what had just happened. Did the man sleep with one eye open? All of Hazard’s team scattered, except Breakneck.

“You cowards,” Leigh called out.

“They’re just being prudent,” Breakneck said. “We have to go back to Virginia Beach with him. He controls our training sessions and PT and won’t hesitate to throw in some old-fashioned log PT or surf abuse or obstacle course runs.”

Not feeling very magnanimous toward their leader at the present, she growled, “The bully.”

“No, Leigh.” He looked toward the closed door as the chewing continued. She winced for Hazard. “He’s not a bully. He’s the best leader I’ve ever had because he cares about us, about our lives. We are a band of brothers in a brotherhood that is unbroken in both duty and honor. Our lives are in his hands, and he would be devastated if anything happened to any of us. He doesn’t like being scared, so he’s taking out his fear on Hazard. He loves us just like you love Hazard.”

“What?” Who the hell was this kid? “How do you know that?”

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