Page 114

Aidan frowned, looking around. “You guys really don’t give a shit? I mean, it’s technically against?—”

Matt laughed, pushing himself to sit with his legs spread out before him. “Like we give a shit if it’s against the rules. I don’t care if you guys are just fucking, or if it’s getting serious. If it makes you happy, and you’re both game, what do I care? Just don’t do all the shit you guys were doing before.”

Nick snorted, getting onto his knees. “Seriously. You two at each other’s throat was the worst thing.”

Ricardo shrugged. “So long as I don’t have to see you guys rubbing dicks together again, I don’t really give a shit.”

Aidan smiled, knowing it looked evil. “So, I shouldn’t tell you there aren’t too many clean surfaces left in this apartment?”

Nick’s eyes widened. “I’m fine...right?”

Aidan looked down at him, eyeing the spot as if in thought. “Mmm...it’s been a lot, so keeping track is hard.”

Sean tapped a red mark on Aidan’s knee. “That’s rug burn. It might have been there.”

“Ooh, good point.”

Nick leaped up. “Not funny!”

Aidan snorted. “I bumped my knee in the shower earlier. Calm down, it’s not rug burn.”

Nick sagged in relief. “Thank God.”

“I bumped it after Sean bent me against the wall,” Aidan continued.

“Goddammit!”

Laughter filled the apartment as everyone but Nick burst out laughing. It was the first time Aidan thought he’d ever heard the whole team laugh together in earnest since the forest, and somewhere inside him, he realized they were all going to be okay.

He and Sean might still have to work a few things out, but if the warm, happy gleam in the man’s bright eyes were any sign,they would get there. And they would get there together, with their team at their backs the whole way through.

EPILOGUE

Six Months Later

The ground crunched under the soles of his thick boots as he marched along. Aidan kept his progress steady, though he was tempted to weave between the tents and temporary buildings that made up the base. The desert sun pounded down, but he kept going, telling himself he could collapse once he got back to bed.

He was exhausted and ready to collapse and sleep for as long as they let him. He and the rest of Team Maelstrom had been kept busy from the moment they’d landed a few months ago. Having proven themselves in General Winter’s little test, albeit with a messy landing, Command had decided they were fit for service again and thrown them back into the Middle East.

Not that Aidan was complaining. It was nice to be working again, to have his sense of purpose back. But if they weren’t sent out to scout unknown areas, root through trouble zones, or follow up on intel, they were being forced to help train the othersoldiers at the base. As much as Aidan liked being busy, he was ready for at least one day to himself.

He kept his upright stance until he pushed through the front door of the temporary building that made up Team Maelstrom’s barracks. Aidan wasn’t completely sure what had happened that made it so the guys in charge thought a five-man team needed a building to themselves, but he suspected Sean had been somehow involved. It wasn’t a large building. Only three rooms split off the main room. Each room wasn’t very big, and the bedrooms had just enough space for a bunk bed and lockers.

Not that Aidan spent much time in his own bunk anyway.

Matt was sprawled on the couch in the center of the main room. It was a testament to how tired he was that the man had a few electronic gadgets around him, but they sat on the table untouched.

“Please tell me we’re safe for the moment,” Matt groaned.

Aidan snorted. “They’re going to leave us be for at least a day.”

“Oh, thank God, I want to pretend to be dead for the next twenty-four hours.”

Aidan looked around. “Where are the rest?”

Matt pointed around as he explained. “Ricardo’s already out cold. Told me that somebody had better be dying if he gets woken up. Nick went to grab us some food so we don’t have to leave later. And I don’t know what Sean’s doing, but he’s in your room.”

Aidan sagged. “Thank God for that.”