Page 58 of Chosen By Swift

“Shit.” Swift fought the urge to let loose a string of far worse expletives. “Shit!”

“I’m sorry, Swift. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself.” In truth, hehatedhis past self. He abhorred the miserable, rotten bastard he had been. He was ashamed of it.

“Did you…? Was it a trade?”

“Yes. It was stupid of me. Selfish. I bought back all the trades I’d made—.”

“Except for this one?”

“Honestly, I had forgotten all about Shear. He’s been gone so long, and so much has happened, he just sort of slipped my mind.” Swift scrubbed his face with his clammy hand. “He’s going to be impossible to convince to cancel the trade.”

“Why?”

“Because the original trade was between me and Torque, and he bought Torque’s trade.”

“Why?”

“Shear was coming to theValiant,and Torque wanted the assignment. So, he offered Shear his collection of trades for the battle engineer slot here. Shear ended up on theImplacable.”

Rampage winced. “After what he survived—.”

“Exactly,” Swift replied in a defeated tone. “He won’t give up his claim to my mate that easily.”

“You have to try,” Rampage insisted.

“I will!”

“Why did you do it in the first place?” Rampage asked, exasperated.

“I didn’t understand what it meant to be a mate. I was younger and stupid.”

“Now, you’re older and still stupid.”

“Thanks,” he grumbled.

“If you can’t get Shear to back down…”

“What?”

“Alys seems conditioned to please her husband. She would go to Shear and do…whatever he wants without much of a fight.”

“It would destroy her.” Swift couldn’t bear to even think about that outcome. “I would rather be branded as a liar and swindler and cheat.”

“He won’t make it easy on you if you renege.”

“I’m his shoes, I would probably do the same.”

“You wouldn’t,” Rampage declared and drained his beer. “I’ve taken up enough of your time tonight. I should go.”

“I’m glad you came tonight.” Swift saw the brief look of disbelief on Rampage’s face. “No, really. I am. It was nice, and I know Alys enjoyed cooking for us. She misses taking her family and taking care of them.”

“Well, there are dozens of pilots down in the bachelor section who would be thrilled to join their superior for a home cooked meal,” Rampage suggested.

It was a good suggestion and exactly the sort of thing Orion would approve of from one of his officers. The admiral was always talking about unit cohesion and mentorship.

Swift walked Rampage out into the living area of their quarters and spotted the neatly packaged meal waiting on the table. “Looks like you’re getting the leftovers.”

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