Page 5 of Legacy's Destiny

Deacon chuffed, “You’re welcome.” At least they were out of the mine and had a fighting chance at survival.

He reached out, gripping Ranger’s arm to haul him over the edge. “Three cats?”

“Bandit found the others,” Ranger panted as he pulled out of the shaft. Together, they assisted the rest of the team, every movement precise and efficient. When they were all at the top, his medic refused to be ignored and tended to Deacon’s injured leg. By the time Bandit finished bandaging Deacon’s leg, the night had deepened, wrapping them in darkness.

“I’ve contacted the extraction team. You have five hours,” Click relayed.

Deacon stood, his eyes scanning the darkened jungle. The smell of rain hung heavy in the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of damp soil and the faint musk of unseen animals. Their day wasn’t over yet.

“Let’s move,” he said, his voice low but firm. They slipped into the shadows, one step closer to retrieval and civilization.

CHAPTER 2

“Cap, you sure you don’t want to come with us?” Ranger fastened the button on his long-sleeved shirt as he asked.

“Positive. I’m not in the mood for the clubs tonight. I’ll grab some dinner and then head back here.”

Rip walked out as he spoke. Their suite at the Pacific Crown Hotel in Bangkok had three rooms and five beds. Located on Sukhumvit Road, the hotel was a modern mix of contemporary design with nods to Thai culture. They stayed here whenever they needed to be in Bangkok. Tomorrow, they’d start a new mission in conjunction with the CIA, but they’d learn the details of that assignment later. The team was enjoying the local nightlife and a good meal tonight.

“Stay out of the red-light districts,” Deacon said as he poured a beer into a frosted mug.

Bandit groaned. “God, yes, I already told them that. I don’t have penicillin with me.”

Ace snickered. “We’re heading to the clubs. Probably Onyx. I want to remember what people our age do for fun. Don’t wait up for us, Cap.”

“I have zero intention of waiting up for you.” Deacon lifted his beer to his team. “Enjoy.”

“We will.” Ranger closed the door behind them with a wave goodbye. It was good to see his team unwind. They’d had back-to-back missions, so the two weeks of downtime in Manila and today in Bangkok were needed and appreciated. His guys needed time to blow off steam without him keeping tabs on them, and he didn’t worry about them. They were all adults—most of the time.

His phone vibrated, and he smiled, knowing who it was without looking. He pulled out his phone and answered it. “Stuck in some hellhole again and need rescuing?”

His brother Ronan barked out a laugh. “Screw you. You didn’t have to show up. We would have managed.”

It was Deacon’s turn to laugh. “Managed to die in a firefight, maybe.”

“Well, you were useful, at least. Jacob says you’re working on a mission with the CIA. Trust but verify.”

“Always.” Deacon took a sip of his beer. “What’s new with you?”

“I’ve decided to give Guardian my resignation.”

Deacon choked on his beer. Coughing, he sputtered, “Say what?” and wiped at his face as soon as his beer hit the counter. Suds slopped from the top of the bottle, but he disregarded the mess.

Ronan snickered. “Don’t have a heart attack. I’m resigning as team leader. I’m not leaving Guardian. I’m moving up to HQ. I gave them a year. By then, Fleur will be well settled in her position, and hopefully, she’ll believe I’m in this for the long run. She knows I love her, but how we got together has her gun shy.”

Deacon rolled his eyes and slumped back. “No pun intended, right?”

“Actually, no, but I’m good like that,” Ronan shot back at him.

“I’m glad you found her.” Deacon sighed. “Someday, I’ll find the woman who can put up with me.”

“You mean being in the field?”

“Yeah. I just can’t see myself sitting behind a desk,” Deacon admitted. “But I’ll admit there’s something missing.” And ever since he saw his brother fall in love with Fleur, he’d been thinking it was what Ronan had found. But he’d never admit that part. Instead, he changed the subject. “How did Charley and Gabby take it?”

“Gabby was all business, congratulated me on growing up, then ducked out for a meeting. Charley was … well, Charley. She wanted to draw lines around authority and discuss how she and Gabby ran the company with Jason.”

“And Jason?”

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