Page 5 of No Mistake

“A personal best. Good work, guys.” Sam smiled down at them impressed, as Steve took a bow, looking much more cheerful.

“Go get cleaned up. First round is on me.” Sam called out before he disappeared outside.

He didn’t have to say that twice. Raven followed him out of the training zone at HQ, or the Farm as Ryan had affectionately named it, to change out of their tactical gear.

The Farm was home to Onyx Black Ops. Led by Captain Sam Harrison, this ultimate black ops unit had been created eighteen months ago. Top tier operators worked in conjunction with various agencies, going anywhere in the world. Dex and his team had come on board to join the first team, Nyx, seven months ago. On paper they didn’t exist. As former Navy SEALs, Raven team were familiar with high-risk missions, but working with Sam gave high risk a whole different meaning. These were the ops the people at the very top of the chain did not want anyone knowing about and would claim ignorance if anything went wrong.

The boys changed and headed to Jerry’s Bar, a round of beers waiting for them as promised.

“That was nice going, guys.” Sam raised his bottle saluting them. “Oh, by the way. You were under four minutes all three runs.”

The team froze, beers halfway to their mouths, and stared at him. A broad grin spread across Sam’s face. The boys didn’t know whether to curse or laugh. Sam was a legend in the Navy. He had been commanding officer of SEAL team six with a reputation of being a fierce hardass. The boys had gotten to know another side of him, although the fierce side showed its face if they fucked up.

“That was cruel, Sam,” Ryan said, though with amusement.

“Can’t have you getting too confident. First two runs were three fifty-nine, so you made up a second on the last one, so still a personal best,” Sam praised.

“Well, don't expect to get away with it. Revenge is sweet,” Ryan teased.

"Bring it on,” Sam challenged.

“You know we have to pay him back.” Ryan glanced at Dex.

“Hell, yeah. Already looking forward to it. Sam, please tell me we beat Nyx.”

Sam took a drink. “Maybe.”

“Ah, come on, you got to tell us. What was their best time?” Dex pushed, but the whole team leaned forward, looking eager to know.

Sam put his beer down. “Yeah, you beat them. They haven’t made it under three fifty-nine yet.”

A resounding cheer erupted.

“Oh man, I am so going to enjoy rubbing this in with Liam.” Dex laughed. The good-natured competition between him and Liam, the Nyx team leader, never ended.

Working with these guys was the best job in the world, and Ryan loved it. Walking into the Navy recruitment office all those years ago, had taken him on a journey he would never forget. He had shared all of that journey with this man beside him. Two eighteen-year-olds walked into the recruitment office that day and changed their lives forever.

Ryan had stumbled upon the Navy, but Dex? No eighteenth birthday party for him. He’d been waiting for the office to open, completed application in hand. Since then, the two of them had faced every challenge head on. They trained together, deployed together, and even went through BUDS together. Brothers in all but blood. That bond was the only thing that kept him going through Hell Week. Every time either of them got close to ringing that damn bell, the other talked them off the ledge and they continued to do that ever since.

While Dex was a natural born leader, Ryan was content being his second in command. It worked. These past five years with Steve, Donnie, Tyler and Mackie, they’d become a tight-knit family. They’d been through some shit, had their arguments but there was nowhere else he’d rather be, and no one else he’d rather work with. As dangerous as their ops could be, there was nothing like that adrenaline rush, living on the edge, putting his life on the line. It took a certain type of person to do what they did. It wasn't for everyone and not everyone understood it. Onyx lived for it. Serving their country, even though with Onyx they couldn’t be recognized for it, made them proud. It made a difference.

“Hey stranger.” Ryan turned at the familiar voice.

“Athena?” Fuck, what the hell was she doing here?

“You haven’t returned my texts.” She stood, hands on hips waiting, expectantly.

Ryan steered her away from the boys, who watched the interaction with interest.

“Yeah, I’ve been really busy.”

Jeez, Athena, the would-be actress he’d met in a bar in downtown LA when the team had been on a joint training op with DEA a few months ago. Athena was gorgeous, no denying it. Fiery red hair, slender body, legs that went on forever. They slept together a few times and then the team got called up at short notice. He didn’t say goodbye, didn’t answer her texts. He basically ghosted her. He wasn’t proud of it. But they weren’t dating; it was just sex. She lived in downtown LA, and he was on Coronado. He had never expected to ever see her again. Yet here she was, standing right in front of him.

Serves you right, Ryan. Karma’s a bitch.

“It’s rude not to text a girl back. I shouldn’t have to come all the way down here to see you.” She was pouting. Ryan looked at her. OK, she was hot but, fuck, there was nothing else remotely interesting about her, what had he been thinking?

Your dick saw a hot lay, asshole. She’s no different from any of the others.

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