Page 93 of Forever Flirting

This made Alex feel a little better that Ricochet confided in him, because something, some miasma, was definitely hanging over the barracks, and they could all sense it.

Paradox had put in for vacation again – surprising everyone. The man rarely took them, and now was going back to Texas?

“Sir?” Alex said firmly, standing there taut, and trying to ignore the churning in his stomach. “I would like to formally resign my commission in the United States Air Force, sir – effective immediately.”

“You can’t do that…” Reilly snapped, and snatched up Alex’s personnel file, before frowning. “No.”

“What?” Alex blurted out and caught himself. “I beg your pardon, sir? I was pretty sure my date has come and gone – and I am due to re-enlist.”

“That… I will certainly let you do,” Reilly said bluntly. “But I will not accept your resignation.”

“Lieutenant Wilcox,” Reaper said coldly, staring at him. “Do you not have your form printed and ready? I require that my team always uphold strict military protocol – this is unconscionable that you do not have it with you. You wouldn’t fly without a helmet… would you?”

“My apologies, sir,” Alex replied, staring at the clock, and feeling a bead of sweat run down his back as he realized that Reaper was telling him to type it out, print it, and turn it in quickly.

“If it’s on your bunk, get it, and…”

“Merrick! Shut your trap…” Reilly snarled angrily, turning towards Reaper immediately, who stood there looking cool as a cucumber. “I will not have you inciting someone to give up their commission.”

“Sir, I was merely correcting him on military protocol requirements since he was failing to follow directions. We just ran into this issue with Lieutenant Wheeling and…”

“SHUT UP, REAPER!”

“Begging your pardon,sir…” Reaper spat out the single word venomously between them. “If you have something to say to me other than ‘shut up’I will happily listen, but if that is the only directive you’ve got at this time… then perhaps we need to discuss protocols with someone else present,sir.”

Whoa boy…Alex thought silently, trying to keep his expression neutral.

“Have you got a bone to pick with me, Merrick?”

“I believe there are several bones,” Reaper said bluntly, not backing down. “Where would you like to discuss this matter?”

“We can discuss it now.”

“Lieutenant Wilcox, please retrieve security down the hallway…” Reaper uttered softly, in a menacing voice that he’d never heard before.

“Security is not needed,” Reilly countered, interrupting him.

“And a medic…”

What the heck is going on…Alex thought wildly, unsure what to say or do right now.

“I gave you an order, Maestro!” Reaper said bluntly, not looking away. “I need security in here NOW or a superior officer to file a complaint for systemic procedural weaknesses that are creating improper military misconduct that has already been documented…”

“SHUT UP, MERRICK!” Reilly screamed, causing Alex to jump as the man literally came unhinged, reaching over the desk for the squadron commander and grabbing him by the front of his shirt.

Reaper just stood there with this smirk on his face… waiting.

In fact, he still had his hands at his back in parade rest, making it look like Reilly was attacking him – and Alex bolted for the door.

“SECURITY!” he hollered, and Reilly was still in Reaper’s face yelling at him.

“I HATE YOUR SMUG ATTITUDE AND HOW YOU THINK YOU ARE BETTER THAN EVERYONE! YOU ARE NOBODY! DO YOU HEAR ME? I WILL HAVE YOUR WINGS FOR THIS STUNT AND YOU WILL NEVER…”

“Sir, Lieutenant Colonel Reilly, you need to remove your hands from First Lieutenant Merrick – now, sir,” one of the security detail began – only to have everyone snap to full attention as another man walked in the room, and silence fell.

“I wish for a full report on this,” Reaper said, not looking away from Reilly’s face. “Maestro – go get your formal resignation letter and turn it in, in accordance to protocol, by putting it on your superior officer’s desk.”

“Do I even want to know what in the heck is going on in here?”

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