frickin’ news, because Seneka operatives were highly trained, well-funded, and not too concerned about scruples, morals, or ethics. When it came to getting a job done, the ends justified the means every damn time.
Marz and the guys knew that firsthand, since they’d been caught up in someone’s “means” a year ago. If Seneka was mixed up in the ambush that killed half their team, like they believed, they already knew exactly what the organization was willing to do.
And now everyone was counting on Marz.
Because the last thing Nick had said as this morning’s meeting ended was, “We can’t consider going after Seneka until we know what’s on that chip. We need all the available intel in hand and we need it yesterday. Can you do it, Marz?”
Of course, he’d said yes. What other answer was there when their lives, their reputations, and their honor were on the line?
Nick was talking about a tiny microchip they’d found a few days before, hidden inside a teddy bear that belonged to Becca. Her father—their commander—had sent her the bear months before his death, and the chip was just one in a string of mysteries they had yet to solve.
Correction: that Marz had yet to solve.
Which meant it was time to get back to work. Marz sat up in his chair just as Charlie and Becca walked into the gym.
“Yo,” Marz said, giving a wave.
“I come bearing gifts,” Charlie called. “Or, actually, we come bearing gifts, since—” He lifted the hand wrapped in gauze. The bandages hid the fact that he’d lost two of his fingers when the Church Gang had taken him hostage two weeks before. The gang had done such a butcher job on the digits that Becca had been forced to call in a few of her EMT friends to perform essentially a field operation to prevent infection.
“Prezzies are my favorite. Whatcha got for me?” Marz asked as they crossed the room.
Charlie and Becca walked up to the desk and each settled a drink and a plate with a giant sandwich and chips on the plywood surface. “Food,” Charlie said. “I was starving, so I figured you might like a break, too.”
“Aw, dude, you are my favorite person right now,” Marz said, his stomach growling at the sight of the food.
“You realize you say that to everyone who makes you food, right?” Becca said with her hands on her hips.
Marz chuckled and winked. “I’m easy like that.But, thank you, too, Becca. You’re my other favorite person.”
Shaking her head, she turned away and started back across the room. “Be good, boys.”
“What fun is that?” Marz called, brushing crumbs off his jeans. Becca just waved. Smiling, Marz looked at Charlie. “You know, wearing your shirt inside out just makes me want to know even more what the shirt says.” Today’s shirt was gray-blue and the outline of a picture was visible through the cotton.
Across the room, Becca opened the door just as Nick walked in. Her laughter echoed through the gym as he tugged her into the hallway. He came back a minute later wearing a big grin.
Charlie sighed as he pulled up a folding chair and sat down. “Jeremy literally has no regular T-shirts.”
“And?” Marz said, gesturing for the other man to keep talking.
“I’m wearing it inside out for a reason,” Charlie said, eyebrow arched.
“Yeah, but I’m going to pester you until you tell me so take the route of least resistance.” Marz grinned.
Charlie rolled his eyes. “Fine. This one has a Schnauzer wearing a saddle that says, ‘Weiner rides: 25¢’.” The guy threw him a droll stare, challenging Marz to laugh.
Marz worked at a straight face. “That’s a good price.”
Charlie threw a potato chip at Marz. He caught it and popped it in his mouth. “Don’t worry. Your weiner rides are our little secret.”
“Oh, my God,” Charlie said, rubbing his good hand over his face. “So, how’s the key search running?” He took a bite of his sandwich.
“Slow as fucking molasses,” Marz said, grabbing a handful
Marz and the guys knew that firsthand, since they’d been caught up in someone’s “means” a year ago. If Seneka was mixed up in the ambush that killed half their team, like they believed, they already knew exactly what the organization was willing to do.
And now everyone was counting on Marz.
Because the last thing Nick had said as this morning’s meeting ended was, “We can’t consider going after Seneka until we know what’s on that chip. We need all the available intel in hand and we need it yesterday. Can you do it, Marz?”
Of course, he’d said yes. What other answer was there when their lives, their reputations, and their honor were on the line?
Nick was talking about a tiny microchip they’d found a few days before, hidden inside a teddy bear that belonged to Becca. Her father—their commander—had sent her the bear months before his death, and the chip was just one in a string of mysteries they had yet to solve.
Correction: that Marz had yet to solve.
Which meant it was time to get back to work. Marz sat up in his chair just as Charlie and Becca walked into the gym.
“Yo,” Marz said, giving a wave.
“I come bearing gifts,” Charlie called. “Or, actually, we come bearing gifts, since—” He lifted the hand wrapped in gauze. The bandages hid the fact that he’d lost two of his fingers when the Church Gang had taken him hostage two weeks before. The gang had done such a butcher job on the digits that Becca had been forced to call in a few of her EMT friends to perform essentially a field operation to prevent infection.
“Prezzies are my favorite. Whatcha got for me?” Marz asked as they crossed the room.
Charlie and Becca walked up to the desk and each settled a drink and a plate with a giant sandwich and chips on the plywood surface. “Food,” Charlie said. “I was starving, so I figured you might like a break, too.”
“Aw, dude, you are my favorite person right now,” Marz said, his stomach growling at the sight of the food.
“You realize you say that to everyone who makes you food, right?” Becca said with her hands on her hips.
Marz chuckled and winked. “I’m easy like that.But, thank you, too, Becca. You’re my other favorite person.”
Shaking her head, she turned away and started back across the room. “Be good, boys.”
“What fun is that?” Marz called, brushing crumbs off his jeans. Becca just waved. Smiling, Marz looked at Charlie. “You know, wearing your shirt inside out just makes me want to know even more what the shirt says.” Today’s shirt was gray-blue and the outline of a picture was visible through the cotton.
Across the room, Becca opened the door just as Nick walked in. Her laughter echoed through the gym as he tugged her into the hallway. He came back a minute later wearing a big grin.
Charlie sighed as he pulled up a folding chair and sat down. “Jeremy literally has no regular T-shirts.”
“And?” Marz said, gesturing for the other man to keep talking.
“I’m wearing it inside out for a reason,” Charlie said, eyebrow arched.
“Yeah, but I’m going to pester you until you tell me so take the route of least resistance.” Marz grinned.
Charlie rolled his eyes. “Fine. This one has a Schnauzer wearing a saddle that says, ‘Weiner rides: 25¢’.” The guy threw him a droll stare, challenging Marz to laugh.
Marz worked at a straight face. “That’s a good price.”
Charlie threw a potato chip at Marz. He caught it and popped it in his mouth. “Don’t worry. Your weiner rides are our little secret.”
“Oh, my God,” Charlie said, rubbing his good hand over his face. “So, how’s the key search running?” He took a bite of his sandwich.
“Slow as fucking molasses,” Marz said, grabbing a handful
Similar Books
