Page 10 of Eight Years (The Trident Trilogy 1)

It’s already well after nine by the time we end our meeting. I decide to head home for the night. I’m barely back in my apartment when I get a text from George.

You’re expected in Virginia Beach on Wednesday morning for an 8am briefing. Contact Captain Harrison Culver of DEVGRU. He’s a friend... Be at least 15 minutes early. Probably 30 minutes to be safe. These guys are a different sort... Let me know how it goes. Good luck.

I try to get some sleep, but it’s worthless. It’s three in the morning, and I’m wide awake. I wasn’t planning on going down there until tonight, but I know I’m not going to get anything done until I rip off the bandage.

As soon as I see the exit signs for Virginia Beach, the tears start streaming down my face, slowly at first, and then so forcefully I have to pull over. I thought I could do this by myself, but I know now that I need backup. I text Raine.

Just pulled into VB. You up for a coffee?

She texts back in record speed, especially for her.

Millie Vanilli!!! I thought you were coming in tonight?? Yes, coffee. Meet me at the Starbucks near Neptune’s Park. I’ll be there in 10.

I have absolutely no idea where that is. I only lived here a few months after my dad died, and for most of that time, I laid in bed, trying to remember that breathing happened naturally. I remember so little about that time, and I’m pretty successful at blocking any memory that tries to pop back up.

“You got lost didn’t you?” Raine is standing by her car in front of Starbucks, waiting for me.

“You know I’ve always been directionally challenged,” I say.

“No wonder you don’t work in the field much,” she says, coming over to hug me. “Girl, I’ve missed you. I’m so glad you’re going to be here for a few weeks.”

Raine and I met in training at Langley. She was really the only one of my classmates that I liked, and vice versa, so we were pretty much inseparable for the better part of a year. We get our lattes and sit down. I take off my sunglasses and realize the mistake I’ve made much too late.

“What the fuck? Oh my God, Millie, your eyes are so red and puffy,” she says. “I knew this was going to be too much for you.”

I put my sunglasses back on quickly, hoping she’ll forget what she’s just seen. No such luck.

“Really, Mills. Are you just going to wear sunglasses the entire time you’re here?”

I take them off again. “I just sat in my car on the side of the highway for almost thirty minutes trying to decide if I could do this. I decided I could, and I’m going to, but I need today to work through this before my meetings tomorrow.”

“Oh, one day, huh? All your repressed emotions are going to disappear in a day?”

“They’re not going to disappear, Raine, but I can keep them under control,” I say, not sure if I believe it myself. “I promise.”

“Well, I’m definitely not going to let you do this alone. I can come with you.”

“I thought you were on an assignment with another team.”

“I am, but this team you’re going to work with. . . I mean, they’re probably the best assault team in the squad, but they’re a lot to deal with. I’m not sure your first outing with them should be alone. Especially with all this happening,” she says, gesturing to my eyes.

“No, I’ll be fine. Really. I needed to have a good cry. I’ve had one. I’m just ready to get on with it,” I say. “Tell me about the team. I’ve read their files, but give me your read.”

“I mean they’re all alpha males. Don’t really like bullshit. Straight shooters, literally and figuratively. They don’t really talk that much, you know. Just be honest, give them good information, and let them do their jobs. They’re the best at it.”

“Tell me more about them individually,” I say, draining the last bit of my latte.

“Well, Mason Davis is the team leader. He’s really solid. Tough, smart. Bullheaded. Can be a total asshole, but he’s right about almost everything. And, he’s successful. Rarely fails at a mission.”

She pauses to look at a text. I look at mine, too. Another text from Chase. I never responded to him over the weekend.

Millie. Call me. Right now.

I know what you’re doing. Stop it. Now.

Raine starts up again. “Then there’s the second in command, Julius Jackson. Everyone calls him JJ. Absolutely no personality. He’s the size of a mountain. I mean, he’s totally jacked. I don’t even know how he moves as fast as he does. He’s one of the trained snipers on the team. Just fucking intimidating from start to finish.”

It’s funny to hear her talk about these guys. It reminds me of how my friends reacted to my dad the first time they met him. It was always the same. They were scared of him until they figured out what a complete teddy bear he was underneath all of the bravado.

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