Hey all,
I'm sorry it has been a while. My dad died... and I lost my gallbladder... and my kid started driving, and my cat died... bla-bla-bla. Anyway, here are the next chapters!
Cheers!
A guard from headquarters drove up to the exit gate in a blue steel-reinforced M-RAP. Clay thought the vehicle was overkill for picking up two kids, but he shrugged at the six-wheeled vehicle with the gears spray-painted on the sides. As he shook his head at the emblem displayed on the rear hatch, he scanned for Abdul. Since Clay was early for his assignment, he didn't get into the back. Instead, he waited for his partner and leaned against the rock wall. He loaded the extra magazine he'd grabbed from Copeland as the sun warmed his face.
The vehicle parked, and the engine was turned off. The driver gave Clay a friendly head nod. According to Rea, Abdul and Clay were supposed to grab a ride with this H.S.P.C. agent. Once they got to the train station, they would meet Butch and Gavin. After they got Clare and Dan, they were to bring the kids back to the compound safely. Easy.
Clay finished loading his magazine. He slipped the extra ammo into his cargo pocket. He then checked his pistol before gliding the gun into the holster under his arm. Clay adjusted his coat over the weapons on each side of his ribs.
For a few minutes, Clay enjoyed the warm breeze from the south. When the wind dyed down, he scooped up his backpack from the ground and strolled to the military vehicle. The driver waved, and Clay unlatched the rear door. He tossed his heavy sack into the back and then turned to look at the enormous H.S.P.C. building.
Since Abdul wasn't here yet, Clay wondered if he could slip away and find Brice. If he could see his grader briefly, Clay could tell his instructor when he would return. Brice probably thought he was doing the night missions with the rest of his training class. Clay didn't get an opportunity to tell him about this job. Rea gave him the assignment at the last minute.
Clay was dying to reassure his boyfriend that nothing would change. Gathering the kids and escorting them to HQ was a short, easy assignment. Clay would be right back in Brice's bed.
Just as Clay took a glance at his watch to gauge how much time he had before the truck left, he spotted Rea and Brice marching down the gravel path toward him.
Brice wore a long black leather duster. The outfit was something Clay had never seen him wearing before. Weapons were strapped to his thighs on both sides. His instructor was dressed mostly in black camouflage and dark denim. The huge pack on his shoulders was buttoned up, and the mask over his nose and mouth had skulls and crossbones where the lips should be. Brice looked like the trained H.S.P.C. agent that he was.
According to some at HQ, Brice used to be a force to be reckoned with. Some whispered that losing his foot broke him, but seeing Brice dressed to kill had Clay thinking there was nothing broken about Brice. That man was still a force of nature, and just seeing him had Clay's heart skipping. The man looked hot and sexy and dangerous. Clay could see the agent who was once the fierce killer and clever assassin. Brice was still all that... and now Clay's lover. A gentle whoosh, like a sixteen-year-old girl's sigh, slipped from his lips.
When Rea and Brice reached Clay's side, Brice crossed both his arms over his muscled chest. His sleek black gloves folded over his biceps. Clay looked from Brice's familiar glare to Rea, who had a slight grin hanging on his lips.
"Frag-order." Rea grinned. "I'm sending Head Instructor Brice with you on this mission." He shrugged. "I think that'll be good. You can show off your talents, Wicks."
Brice yanked down his protective Snow Flu mask and didn't speak. Instead, he scanned the truck and then his surroundings.
Clay held in his smile. If Rea meant talents like sucking Brice off in a hidden area before the train parked, then yes. He could show off that. Clay licked his lips while picturing being with Brice outside of HQ. His smile fell as he considered that he would have to introduce Brice to Butch and Gavin. Specifically, his brother Butch. His happiness faded at that idea. What if Brice didn't like his older brother? What if Butch did... or said... something?
"What about Abdul?" Clay asked.
"I want to keep Abdul here." Rea shrugged again. "Don't look so worried. You'll see. You and Brice will be friends in no time. This is good. Brice needs to get out."
"I guess if he starts yelling, I can always use my gift on him," Clay muttered. If Brice and Butch got into a fight, he would use his gift on both men.
