Page 35 of Mac
Mac did his best to look offended."Well, I never!Do I look like a window licker to you?"
Savage chuckled."Well, you're not a flyboy."
"No," Mack shot the other man a wry half-grin."I'm not a pampered prick either."
"You're not a puddle pirate, not land locked in the middle of the desert like this, so that means you must be a trench monkey."
"Took you long enough."Mac took a pull from his beer.
"Where'd you serve?"
"Middle east, we called it the sand box then, not sure what you're calling it now."Mac shook his head."It was a long time ago and I've forgotten more than I remember about that time."
"There's a lot of it that's not worth remembering.If I could forget it, I would."
"Give it time.Some of it fades, some of it never does."
"You're not all that much older than me."
Mac lifted one brow and stared at the younger man for a moment."I'm more than half again your age."
"I'm older than I look."
"I've been told the same but considering what I know I'd place you somewhere between twenty-seven and thirty."
Savage's eyes went wide for a moment."Damn, you're good.I turned twenty-eight last month."He narrowed his eyes at Mac."You didn't guess that just by looking at me."
"Nope.We got a little information before you got here.Like I said.Considering what I knew...like you’re being a SEAL, and the average age a SEAL leaves.We'd have heard if you'd been discharged for something like an injury or anything else that stood out.We aren't what we seem, and in order to maintain that cover, we have to know what kind of person we're bringing in before they arrive.It's our lives on the line.I'm sure you understand, considering."
Savage nodded.Mac had no doubt that he'd done at least one thing as a SEAL that had him relying on a cover, at least for a little while, to get the job done.That meant he would know how important it was that they check out anyone who would or could be let in on what the Demented Souls really were.
"I get it."Savage fell silent for a minute then leaned close and lowered his voice."Hey, I wanted to ask.What's the deal with the women?It seems like some know what's going on, and others have no clue."
"That's actually true."Mac fought the urge to laugh at the surprised look on the other man's face."The whores, of course, have no clue, and never will.Jailbait knows we're not what we seem but doesn't seem to want to know more.Same for a couple others.Krissi, Deanna and Amber know what we are.Krissi is Ruger's ol' lady and she does what she can to help out, mostly here or at the businesses, her father is one evil son of a bitch, but she wants nothing to do with him and has proven it.Deanna and Amber belong to Kinard and Crash respectively, both kind of stumbled into it at first, we had people who needed medical aid, and since they have training, and were on hand at the time, they got pulled in, then as they've asked questions, they've learned more."
Savage nodded and seemed to be committing everything Mac told him to memory.Mac didn't know how much he would remember, but he seemed to be at least trying.Another drink and Mac watched bubbles rise in his beer for a minute before checking the clock.4:30 a.m.
"Fuck.I'm not going to be worth shit today."He took another long pull, set the half full glass back on the table and stood."Thanks for the drinks, but I'm going to see if I can catch an hour or two before I have to get to work."
"No problem.Thanks for the talk.It's been more than anyone’s said to me in one go since I got here.Well, other than to give me orders or tell me where to find what I need here."Savage motioned to the bar behind him.
"Yeah, speaking of that.Call it a night and get at least a little sleep yourself.Someone will deal with this in the morning."Mac motioned to the lower floor with a circle of one finger in the air as he turned and headed for the stairs.
"I think I will."Savage stood.
Mac didn't hang around to see what he would do.Instead he pulled out his phone as he climbed the stairs and typed up a message to Elyse.
Sorry about having to leave.I'll try to catch you tonight; in the meantime, I'm going to get a little sleep before I have to open the shop in a few hours.
He pocketed his phone, dug his keys from his pocket and let himself into his room.After stripping out of his clothes he fell face down across the bed and was asleep seconds after his head hit the pillow.
CHAPTER16
Elyse woke reaching for some one that wasn't there.She shook her head and looked at the empty spot on the bed before reaching over and finding the sheets cold.A jolt of pain shot through her chest that he would leave in the middle of the night, without letting her know.She stretched then sat up and twisted and stretched again.That's when she spotted the folded piece of paper resting on the pillow beside hers.
A thasgaidh, I'm sorry you have to wake up alone.I got called in on club business and you looked so peaceful and angelic I hated to disturb you.I'll try to come back, but don't know if I'll be able to.No worries, I'll be in touch.Soon.
The note was signed with a clear M and a scribble that she assumed was the rest of his name but couldn't read.The sadness that had ached in her chest since she'd found the bed beside her empty lifted.It was easier to know he hadn't wanted to sneak away in the middle of the night.That would have been a shitty, not to mention stupid move, since she knew where he lived, and it would be near impossible to get away from her.She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath as she got out of bed and forced herself to start her day.
