Page 47 of Breathe
Of course, Viper reported to the current Secretary of Defense, so that put Real at a disadvantage.
That right there and his actions of cold cocking an unsuspecting trainee had him making a quick decision beforeViper could make the phone call that could potentially bench him.
“I’m going to take a few days off,” he told Viper. “You good with that?”
Viper frowned, but nodded. “Do what you need to do.”
“Where are you headed?” Rip asked, dropping into step beside Real as he walked toward the barracks.
“Back to California.”
“I’m coming with.”
“You serious?” Real scowled at Rip, but he knew it wouldn’t do any good. Rip was tenacious like that.
“Yup,” Rip said.
As Real walked across the ranch, he couldn’t help but admire the view.
It really was a beautiful place, with its grassy paddocks and tall, sturdy trees. Right now, even at the end of January when the trees were bare and the grass was yellow, the place had an old world feel about it. The sprawling buildings and main house built of dark wood only added to the vintage look.
Back in the day, the place had been a dude ranch before the SecDef decided to turn it into a training facility for active and former military assassins.
“Hey, guys,” Quick Jameson said, coming out of the bunk house.
“Hey, Quick, where are you headed?” Rip asked, walking up the short steps.
“Phoenix has an international job, I’m going to help out,” Quick said, hefting a go-bag over one shoulder. “You want to come?”
“Can’t, we’re heading to California.” Rip shook his head.
“What for?” Quick asked Real.
“I’m taking some time off,” Real told Quick.
Quick Jameson formerly worked for Phoenix doing covert ops that reported to the former SecDef. Quick now lived at the ranch to help train Genesis assassins.
“Tell Apollo to get well soon,” Quick said and left them.
Real entered the barracks and approached his bunk to start packing a go-bag.
“What’s got you so bent?” Rip asked after Quick walked away.
Rip walked further down the aisle and did the same at his own bunk.
When Real didn’t answer, Rip figured it was something to do with what had happened to Apollo.
He also overheard Crow talking to Stone via video call. Something about an incident with the guards treating Azrael like dirt at Dave’s place.
Rip could understand why Real had lost his shit with the guards. Azrael was a drop-dead gorgeous young man, and Real was deadly possessive of him.
“You pissed that Azrael is going out with Winter?”
Real squeezed the shirt in his fists.
“No.”
“Then…it must be something else? I heard Apollo is out of danger now,” Rip said.
