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“Let’s just say that I would prefer if Reilly didn’t return.”
“I think we are all in agreement on that one…”
“Reaper would be fantastic, truthfully,” Austin admitted. He had literally just thanked the man that very morning and thought he was excellent leadership material. He cared – and that was rare.
“… But he’s not staying. I think he’s got a year or two left.”
“We can get the dirt from Maestro when he gets out of there…”
“No,” Ricochet said quietly. “He’s very closed-mouth when he wants to keep his secrets. None of us knew about his son until recently.”
“True,” Austin agreed.
That had been quite a shocker to everyone. Maestro rarely said much and talked mostly with Caboose before he’d left. It had to be hard getting transferred here, making a friend, that friend leaving… and then your wingman was gone?
Ghost had been Maestro’s wingman, but got out a month ago to return home to his wife.
“I’m shocked.”
“I’m not. Reilly’s been horrible to everyone. Remember Handsy? What kind of jerk has someone stand there for hours on end in a salute just to be petty?”
“Reilly,” Paradox muttered, shaking his head and held out the bag. “Popcorn?”
Austin listened to the conversation around him as his mind raced. If there was a chance in command, then it would ripple the ‘pond’ – which meant that there would be a new squadron leader. It wouldn’t be him. He was too low in rank, too new, but that person could also make or break his time here.
Suddenly, he really wanted to get away for a bit.
Let the destruction happen, let the chips fall where they may, and then he would find his ‘place’ once more among the remains. The last time there had been a shakeup, he was given new orders here… so that was enough for him to feel unsettled at this moment, especially when he was finding a nugget of happiness in his world.
All of them grew quiet as they heard voices once more.
“… Man, that felt a little too good, and remember – say nothing,” Reaper was speaking to someone, and the four men looked at each other, unmoving.
No one wanted to get caught snooping, especially while tensions were high. They could hear nervous laughter and Austin recognized who it was. The man who’d kept his personal life a secret from everyone – and had just revealed that he had a son back home.
Maestro.
Maestro was in that office with Reaper, Bradford, and Reilly. Something was going down, and it was just a matter of what and when. He could practically hear the whine from the bomb that was about to fall in his lap – and would be completely unaware because the man with the zipped lips would never blab a word.
“I guess we wait?” Austin whispered in disappointment.
“I guess so,” Ricochet agreed.
“And I guess I’m not in trouble after all,” Paradox volunteered – walking boldly out the doorway with his bag of popcorn, tossing another kernel into his mouth.
Austin watched his friend leave, wishing he could put on a front like Paradox… and knew the other man was thinking the exact same thing as him. The ‘poo’ was about to hit the fan - and they would all be ducking to avoid that nasty crosswind that was about to hit the entire team.
He let out a soft curse, and heard Copperhead laugh softly at him, standing nearby, looking at the other man knowingly.
“Exactly, my friend… exactly.”
CHAPTER8
GISELLE
She snorted,looking at Austin’s email, and rolled her eyes. What a silly guy, and what exactly was he trying to say? Was he trying to push her into thinking he was handsome?
Uh… too late?
