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“Alright,” Cash shouted, bringing the meeting to order. “With the Young Squad and The Ditty Boppers in the field, that leaves us with only two teams that can take a mission at this time.”
“What about us?” Jason grunted, staring at Cash with cool eyes that promised violence if the situation was right.
Cash’s eyes flicked to Jack, then back to Jason. “You’re still sitting out.”
“I’m fine,” Jack snapped, shifting in his seat. “I don’t need more time.”
“I say you do,” Cash said, his fingertips pressing into the table as he leaned forward. “It hasn’t been that long since you came back to us.”
“It’s been eight fucking months,” Jack growled, getting to his feet. “You have to put me in the field eventually. Otherwise, what the fuck are we doing here?”
“You’re putting in the time training,” Cash retorted.
Man, it had been tense around here the last couple of months. After Jack’s assignment with Rafe went south, he got himself clean and back on the right track. Hell, he was even living with Sky and acting as a father to her kid, who happened to adore him. I wasn’t sure what the holdup was, but Cash had to have a reason.
“And in the meantime, my team is sitting on our asses when we should be out in the field. Why the fuck are you paying us if you’re not going to use us?”
“Do you want to leave?” Cash asked casually. “The door is over there. I’m sure you can find somewhere else more stimulating to work if you don’t like what I have you doing.”
Jack gritted his teeth, knowing this was the only place for him at the moment. Any more changes in his life at this point would probably kill the progress he’d made since returning and getting clean.
Johnny grabbed him by the arm and pushed him down in his chair.
“Look, I know you’re all eager to get out in the field. It’s been a little slow lately, but this is just the way things go in this business.”
FNG raised his hand. “Hey, uh—any chance I could actually get on a team? I wouldn’t mind doing something other than meditating with Fox.”
“We could all do with a little less of that,” I muttered under my breath.
Cash winced slightly, clearing his throat as he looked back at his paperwork. “There is a new team that will be formed in the upcoming weeks. I’m just waiting for confirmation on…a new hire,” he said, refusing to look anyone in the eye.
“Who’s the new hire?” I asked, leaning forward. Usually, when Cash wanted to hire someone, he had Rae and me do a background on the guy, then he was sent for training with Fox if he was cleared. But we hadn’t heard a drop about any of this.
“It’s not so much a new hire as a…returning hire.”
Again, he didn’t look at anyone. Talk about being shady. I couldn’t think of a damn person he would?—
“Whoa, hold on a fucking minute,” IRIS snapped, shoving out of his chair. “You’re not fucking serious.”
My head swiveled between the two as I waited for the next bomb to drop.
“It’s not a guarantee.”
“He left of his own choosing. Why would he come back?”
“Why would who—ohhh!” I said, finally catching on, as did everyone else.
“I haven’t convinced him to come back.”
“Why would you try?” IRIS asked. “He’s in love with my wife!”
“Obsession is very different from love.”
“That’s true,” Fox spoke up. “When I was obsessed with Anna, I followed her everywhere and spied on her for years. I mean, then I was probably in love with her the whole time, and that only increased my obsession, but he’s still right.”
“Thanks,” IRIS spat.
“No problem, man,” Fox grinned. “And hey, if he does come back, I have some great herbs that can help flush those feelings out of his system.”