Page 11 of Tabitha

That doesn’t explain the disappointment that twinges in my chest. The only reason he protested he couldn’t be my brother was because of logic, not because he’s interested in me romantically.

It’s silly, but the thought makes me unreasonably cranky.

If I didn’t know better, I’d almost swear that Man is playing matchmaker with all of us, but that’s just too ridiculous.

Emotions make people reckless.

They are a waste of time.

A distraction.

Needing to put those foolish thoughts from my head, I open up the throttle and roar down the road, determined to focus on nothing but the mission.

* * *

GAGE

“Idon’t see why we have to wait,” River grouses as he mops up the ketchup on his plate with the last of his fries, not even bothering to close his mouth as he chews.

Bast leans back in his chair, calmly sipping his black coffee, not at all put off by River’s antics. The man oozes serenity, nothing cracking his calm exterior. Even in battle, he keeps his cool, every step methodical and deadly. He’s the oldest of us, well into his thirties, having served two tours before joining our squad, and we trust him with our lives.

“We follow protocol,” I answer River.

Again.

For the twelfth time in the last four days.

River huffs and shoves his plate away, scratching the back of his head, always fidgeting when not focused on a mission. It’s like he doesn’t know how to conform back to the civilian world.

None of us really do.

It’s why we went into the private sector.

When our old commander asked us to investigate a militia group, we accepted. The initial online search didn’t show anything out of the ordinary. It wasn’t until we arrived that I realized the real reason we were asked to take the job.

The whole town has been taken over by an ex-military group who’ve dubbed themselves Legion.

Hacking into their files has revealed they are some sick sons of bitches.

No wonder the commander is concerned. If the public discovers ex-military men have turned into criminals, they will have a field day.

I sip my coffee, glancing at the kid over the rim. “Reinforcements should arrive today.”

River rolls his eyes, then crosses his arms. “We reported our findings. I don’t see why they just don’t swoop in and clean up this mess.”

“Because they need proof of a crime,” I reply, pushing up my glasses.

“This whole place is one big crime scene,” River mutters as he sulks. The kid gets bored easily, needing the adrenaline rush to feel alive.

Ever since we mustered out of the army, he has been taking more and more risks. Without anything to keep him busy, he’s losing his grip on his sanity.

I fear, before long, it will get him killed.

“We stay until we find our missing person,” Bast rumbles, his voice brooking no argument. He’s been our staff sergeant since we enlisted, and the three of us are the only people in our squad who came out of that hell alive. None of us had the heart to continue. Bast took an early medical retirement, while River and I took a medical discharge. Since none of us have family outside of the army, we decided to stick together and open our own private security firm.

After five years, we could retire if we wanted, but none of us are the type of men who do well without a mission.

River’s lips purse, his brown eyes dead as he gazes back at us. “So we just sit back and do nothing while they plot their next murder?”

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