Page 55 of Desolation

“You know just because you aren’t in the Navy anymore doesn’t mean no one keeps an eye on you.”

I don’t give him the courtesy of looking at him and just continue my sprints, the burn in my thighs almost unbearable.

“But since you work for Cole Security and I am a partner in the company, it’s important that all our employees are mentally healthy. You know taking care of their bodies with exercise, which you clearly do, eating healthy, which seems to be the case, seeing their shrink when it’s what got them kicked out of the SEALs to begin with.”

I trip over my feet. How the fuck does he know I haven’t seen Dr. Evans?

“That’s not why I was kicked out,” I retort before going back to my sprints.

Mark walks closer to me. “Oh, I know that. The alcohol and the fight got you discharged.”

This time I stop before tripping over my feet. “Who the fuck told you that?”

“I’ve got a lot of friends that like to gossip.”

“Only a few people know that.”

He holds his hands up. “I’m not one to pass judgement. Shit, I’ve done a few things I am not proud of.”

I wish I had something to punch right now. Not that it would do much good, just prove my temper is short fused.

“Look, Landon, I am not here to judge you for your behavior. I just want to make sure your head is in the right place before we send you to the desert.”

I raise a brow at him. “You and Cole planning on sending me out?”

“When the time comes, yes. Eventually, we’ll need you to be out there, especially with that case you are working on. David said you are so close. You have names and places you just need to figure out what it all means. Jackson is going to want you out there. But he won’t do it if you aren’t there mentally. He was in a bad place a few years back when we got intel about our friend. He almost died. I don’t want the same thing to happen to you.”

“It’s not easy,” I confess to Mark.

“I know. We are the tough guys. We are the best of the best. When we break down we think it shows weakness.” He puts a hand on my shoulder. “Let me tell you something. It doesn’t make you weak. It makes you stronger.”

I snort. I’m sick of hearing that.

Mark’s hand falls off my shoulder. “I’m not here to tell you what to do. I’m just saying it won’t hurt to go.”

I roll my shoulders back. “I’ll think about it.”

Mark looks at me skeptically but nods.

“Can I get back to my workout now?”

He glances down at his G-shock and shakes his head. “Nope. Staff meeting in an hour.”

“Really?”

“Why do you think Jackson sent me to find you? You didn’t answer his text.”

“I don’t have my phone.”

“Well, lucky I am here to bring you in.”

I shake my head as I pull my shirt off to wipe the sweat from my brow.

Mark pokes at my stomach. “Look at that! I think you gained an ab!”

“Fuck off!” I joke as I push him away.

“So whatever happened with that girl?” he asks as we head toward the parking lot.

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