25. Max

“So…allthat shit about your family,” FNG started.

I knew that was going to come back to bite me. And since we had a long flight to our location, there was no time like the present for them to bring it up.

“It was a lie, okay?”

“Yeah, but why? That was some deep shit,” he said, shaking his head. “I actually felt really bad for you.”

“That was sort of the point.”

“Yeah, but to do that to your friends…that’s low.”

I took my eyes off the skies and looked over at him in the co-pilot’s seat. “Is that what we are?”

“Aren’t we?”

“I’m not friends with anyone,” I muttered, wishing like hell I could drink some whiskey right about now. But I had to make that big speech about how I needed to leave. And the only way Cash would allow me to go on this mission was if I was sober.

I fucking hated being sober.

“That’s harsh, man. I was really trying with you.”

“Try with someone else. I’m not interested.”

“How can you not care about anyone else in your life? I just don’t get it.”

“Because I don’t,” I snapped. “And what the fuck is wrong with that? Why do I have to like other people? Why do I have to give a shit about anyone other than me? At the end of the day, it’s my life.”

“Yeah, but?—”

“But nothing! I get it. You guys are all about camaraderie and sharing shit. Hell, Fox has you doing yoga together. I don’t judge you for that. Why are you judging me for wanting to live my life without everyone giving a fuck about where I am and what I’m doing?”

“Because life without love is…meaningless!” he shouted like a damn Valentine’s card.

I thought I heard Fox humming All You Need Is Love, but that couldn’t be right. He’d given up singing anything from a musical.

“Maybe we should talk about the fact that Fox is taking hormones. I think that’s a little more fucking concerning than whether or not I need love in my life.”

The humming stopped and Fox stormed to the cockpit. “I will have you know that I was only taking hormones because I was trying to control my testosterone levels!”

“By making yourself a woman?” I asked, chuckling at the ridiculousness of it all.

“Testosterone is strongly linked to rage,” he said on the verge of tears. “I was trying to…to…” He pressed his fist to his mouth and turned away from us.

“And that’s what you get when you share too much,” I said, jerking my thumb over my shoulder at Fox.

“I thought you, of all people, would understand,” Fox snapped at me. “After what you went through…”

“It was a lie!” I snapped. “I was never abused, my parents are still alive and kickin’, and I don’t remember anyone named Harry. Although, in my defense, I’ve been drunk most of my adult life, so it’s entirely possible I know a pimp.”

“I opened up to you,” Fox choked out. “I shared a deep pain with you, and you spit in my face.”

“I did not do that at all.”

“I can’t keep going like this. I can’t?—”

“Would someone please give him a shot of testosterone!” I shouted, unable to take it any longer.

“You’re so mean!” Fox said, stomping his foot and walking away.

“How the hell is he supposed to be of any use to us if he’s acting like a woman?”

“Not my woman,” FNG snorted.

“Which one?” Dash asked, coming from the back. “The one you married or the one who tried to kill you?”

“Either. They’re all deadly mistresses,” FNG grinned.

“And they all want you dead.”

“Well, not all of them. And, may I point out, that I didn’t die. Once again proving that I’m unable to expire.”

“Is anyone else concerned about taking Fox on this job?” Dash asked. “It was fine when he was psycho, but if he starts crying on the job, nobody’s gonna take us seriously.”

“Just get him strapped in so we can land,” I interrupted. “You have ten minutes to get him sorted, and then we either tie him down or shoot him.”

“I’ll give him a shot of cortisol. Maybe that will help,” Dash murmured.

“You have that on the plane?” I asked, a little impressed.

He smirked at me. “We have so much you don’t know about.”

“And why’s that?”

“Because you’ve always been too drunk,” he answered, walking away.

I wasn’t sure I liked flying when I was totally sober. There was too much bickering, and I hated the way they all felt the need to constantly talk to one another. Didn’t anyone like peace and quiet?

I tuned out FNG for the rest of the flight. He yammered on beside me, talking about his amazing trip and how many women he had to turn down because his life was too dangerous. I caught bits and pieces, but unlike the rest of OPS, I really didn’t care how he spent his year away.

“Landing gear down,” I said to no one in particular after I checked in with the radio tower that we were clear for landing.

“Gear down,” FNG repeated.

“What are you doing?”

“Learning to be a pilot.”

“By repeating everything I say?”

“Hey, you might be incapacitated one day, and then it will be up to me to land the plane! I’ve seen it before.”

“Where?” I snapped.

“In movies.”

I rolled my eyes and continued the descent, trying to ignore the way FNG watched my every move.

“What are you doing now?”

“Pulling the Jimmy Rudder,” I lied.

“What’s that?”

“It’s what ensures that the plane won’t accidentally take off once we hit the tarmac.”

“Seriously? It can do that?”

I nodded sagely at him. “I’ve seen it too many times before.”

His wide eyes watched with wonder as we touched down. “What happens now?”

“Now, I tell them Snow White has landed.”

“Why?”

“It’s a signal that the plane is clear and free of all enemies. Yep, it’s something the FFA imposed after 9-11.”

“How did I not know about this?”

“Well, you would if you had gone to flight school.”

“I’ll have to do that,” he said, jotting down notes in a small pad. Then he frowned as he looked up at me. “If I don’t say Snow White has landed…what happens?”

I shook my head slowly. “That’s when the FBI is called, and they hold everyone on the plane in federal prison until they can be sure you’re not a terrorist. I’ve heard there’s even waterboarding involved.”

“Fuck, that’s some fucked up shit.”

I grinned to myself, thinking that maybe being sober wasn’t so bad after all. Fucking with FNG was quite entertaining. Not that I wanted to stop drinking. I enjoyed it way too much to stop, but every once in a while wasn’t that bad.

“Alright, the SUVs are waiting,” Dash said after I shut down the plane. “Let’s get a move on and?—”

“Whoa,” FNG chuckled. “Whatcha doin’?”

“Getting ready for the job,” Dash retorted.

“I can see that. Why are you ordering everyone around?”

Dash looked at me, then back to FNG. “Because someone has to be in charge.”

“And you think that’s you?” FNG stood to his full height, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Why wouldn’t it be me? I’ve worked at OPS the longest.”

“That doesn’t make you the best.”

“Hey, at least I didn’t have to make up stories about why I’d been gone for a fucking year.”

“I didn’t make those stories up. What the fuck is it gonna take for people to believe me?” FNG snapped.

“Guys, this is really—” I started, but was interrupted by Dash.

“Look, it’s nice that you want to start a team and fit in, but this job requires a real man.”

“I worked with a former KGB officer,” FNG countered. “I think I have what it takes to lead a team.”

“Yeah, right over a cliff.” He pressed his finger to his chin. “Hmmm, where has that happened before? Oh, right. When we were with Thumper right before you disappeared.”

“Hey, there was an assassin after us. I did what I had to do!”

I shoved past them and grabbed my gear. Fox wasn’t crying anymore, thankfully, and grabbed his own bag.

“So, what’s the plan?” he asked.

“Go in, find out where the girl is being held, torture the dirty fucks until we have what we need, get the girl, and shoot the mother fuckers in the head.”

“Ooh,” his eyes lit up. “Can I do that?”

I was taken aback by his bloodlust after just weeping like a woman a half hour ago, but if he was back, that had to be a good thing. “Sure,” I said, slapping him on the shoulder.

His eyes darkened as an evil smirk crossed his lips. “This is going to be so good.”

I walked down the steps of the plane, ready to get this show on the road. I climbed in the driver’s seat, something I never did, and pulled up the map. Fox got in the passenger side as Dash and FNG rushed over to meet us.

“You guys didn’t wait for us,” FNG complained.

“You were too busy bitching,” I muttered. “Alright, here’s the plan. We’ll park outside the suspect’s house. Cash said the authorities had already looked into him, but came up empty. From our intel, this guy has been hanging around with some pretty nasty characters since his release from prison earlier this year. He’s also been sighted on the route the girl takes home from school every day.”

“Why haven’t the authorities arrested him yet?” Dash asked.

“He’s a suspect, but they have nothing to hold him on. He had an alibi at the time of the kidnapping, which led the police to believe he had a partner. However, they’ve been unable to identify the partner. That’s where we come in. The family has asked us to step in and do what the police can’t.”

“Question,” FNG raised his hand. “Why are you in charge?”

Fucking hell. I pointed at the map. “The police have unmarked cars here, here, and here—essentially cutting off any access for us to enter and snatch the suspect. However, he hits up the bar regularly every day. That’s where we’ll take him.”

“I still don’t understand why you’re team leader,” FNG grumbled.

“Well, clearly, he has the skills for it,” Dash said pointedly.

“Obviously, since you two were arguing, he took over,” Fox grinned. “Did you see how I did that?”

I rolled my eyes. I didn’t know what they were talking about or why. I just wanted to get the job done. “Are we clear on the plan?”

“Uh…not me,” FNG raised his hand again.

“Fuck, does it matter why I’m in charge?”

He frowned. “Actually, I was just wondering where you wanted me.”

“You’re the distraction. You’ll go in through the front and make sure no one follows us out the back. Dash, you’ll be with me, and Fox will be out back in the SUV.” I looked at each of them. “Are we clear?”

They all nodded in agreement.

“Then let’s move.”