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My team was supposed to take it easy after yesterday’s events, but since I’m not in the best mood, I decide to drag everyone else down with me.
Groans hit the air when I inform my team that we’re running drills.
“Keep up, gentlemen!” I bark, doing the drills right alongside them.
Exhaustion? Hunger? Thirst?
What’s that?
I want to push myself further. I don’t want to feel. Numbness. The kind that comes when you fling yourself right into the sun. Pain and exhaustion and then nothing.
Peace.
I chase it, but it eludes me.
“Ugh!” My men drop like flies. “Sir, we can’t do this anymore.”
Weaklings.
I check my watch, stunned to see how late it is. Island should already be picking up Regan by now.
What would she say if she heard it was her last time with my daughter?
My head aches. I want to punch something. The ground. The air. A bag. But the men are grunting, sweating and red in the face.
I’ve overdone it.
“Take the afternoon off,” I tell them. “Once you do the recovery session, you can all go home.”
Cheers break out. The promise of time off is enough to lift the mood and put smiles back on their faces.
At least they can smile.
At least they can freaking breathe.
I open a water bottle and let it splash over my head. Later tonight, my muscles will protest how hard I pushed them. I might have to run an ice bath, but for now, I still feel keyed up.
“Sir?” A voice calls to me.
I whirl around.
“Your mother-in-law is here.” He pauses. “She brought a guest.”
Something thuds in my stomach. I grab a towel and quickly dry my face before rushing across the hallway.
When I throw the door open, I see Abe standing beside his grandmother. The two are smiling at each other.
It’s been so long since I’ve seen my son smile that it stops me in my tracks.
With effort, I tear my eyes off his face and look around for the guest.
Ice floods my veins when I see her.
It’s Rosie, the social worker.
“What are you doing here?” My voice is filled with unease.
Genevieve whirls around. Her arm falls protectively around Abe.