Chapter 2

Gabe Jackson bolted uprightin her bed and looked around the room frantically, trying to get her bearings and situate herself in the moment. It took a while before the environment became vaguely familiar; she’d been in this motel for five days. Five days too long, but she didn’t have a choice. She blew out a long breath and shook her head before dropping back into the softness of the pillow. Twenty years of service relatively unscathed, and an insider attack ended up being the one thing that occasionally dragged her out of a deep and restful sleep.

“Are you okay?”

Gabe half-turned toward the whispered voice. “I’m fine.”

“What time is it?” Solo asked.

Gabe glanced at the neon-blue display on the side table clock. “Nearly 0600.” She turned the phone’s alarm function off. Her body was so used to getting up early, she didn’t really need it, but it gave her the illusion of a normal life. “I have to go for a run.”

A low grumble followed her statement. “Have to go for a run? You can tell you’ve only just gotten out of the service.”

She pushed the sheets off and swung her legs out of bed. “Twenty years of habits are going to take more than a few weeks to break.”

“But we drank so much last night, you’re probably still buzzed.”

Gabe gave a short chuckle. “You’re probably right, but a run will wash it out of my system.”

“How come I ended up here instead of going home?”

Gabe laughed again as she recalled the phone conversation she’d overheard at around one a.m. “Because your wife locks you out if you’re not back by your curfew.”

“Damn it. This is going to cost me a fortune in forgive me flowers, and it’s all your fault.”

Gabe leaned back and punched her buddy in the gut. “Don’t blame me, Solo. I would’ve been just as happy to have swung by your place and had dinner instead of whatever the hell it was we got up to.”

“True, but I wouldn’t. I need the occasional night out for the sake of my sanity. You have no idea the effect triplets have on your life.”

“And I never want to either.”

“What did we get up to?” Solo asked, sounding a little sheepish. “I really don’t remember.”

“You’re not likely to after everything you put away.” Gabe pulled on her shorts and replaced her tank top with a sports bra and running tee. “But you don’t have to worry; I kept all the local talent away from you.”

“You mean you kept them all to yourself?” Solo threw a balled-up sock, but Gabe caught it before it hit her head.

“Nope. You and I were talking business, so I was pretty well-behaved actually.” Which had been a shame, because there’d been some seriously sexy women at the bar they’d gone to after dinner. She threw the sock back at Solo. “If you get up, I’ll drop you at home before I hit the lake.”

“Are you sure? It’s kind of far to drive for a run,” Solo said.

“It’s no problem.”

“Still, you need to get out of old habits, bud. You’re a civilian now, and you don’t have a job. You should be sleeping in while you’ve got the chance.”

Gabe dropped into the chair by the desk and pulled her socks and sneakers on. “I’ll sleep when I’m old and don’t have an empire to build. Wait.” She flicked the light on and looked at Solo. “You remember you said you were in, don’t you?” Panic flared in Gabe’s gut. Solo was the final piece of the financial puzzle.

Her brow furrowed as if she had no idea what Gabe was talking about. “I told you already; I don’t really remember anything about last night.”

“Don’t fuck with me, man. You said Janie had given you the green light. I’m all about the green lights. You can’t take it back.” Of course, Solo could take it back even though they’d made a gentlebutch’s agreement, which was as good as a legal document, but their friendship would take a serious hit if she did.

“I’m shitting you. Of course I remember.” Solo burst into laughter and jumped out of bed, before she dropped back onto it gingerly, looking particularly pale even for fluorescent motel lighting. “Damn, I’m out of practice. I shouldn’t have tried to keep up with you, and we should’ve given up at midnight.”

“Sure thing, Cinders. And I should’ve driven you home in the pumpkin waiting in the alley behind the bar.” Gabe blew out a long breath as she tied her laces tight. She hadn’t needed the near heart attack, but it reminded her how much she’d missed Solo’s sense of humor over the past few years. She’d missed all of the old buddies she’d recently reconnected with, but Solo had been separated from the military the longest.

Solo pulled on the clothes that she’d dumped on the floor beside the bed before crawling back under the covers. “You’re an asshole. Are you going to be an asshole when we’re working together again?”

Gabe laughed and nodded. “You wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“I forgot to tell you that Janie invited you for dinner tomorrow night. You can meet the triplets, and then maybe you’ll go easier on me when you realize what I have to go through at home.”

“I have no sympathy,” Gabe said before heading to the bathroom. “Your wife is beautiful, and thankfully, your kids have gotten her looks instead of yours. You’re blessed.” She didn’t know whether Solo actually was blessed by having kids—the thought of trying to raise mini people in this world terrified Gabe.

“Maybe now you’re settling here, you can babysit.”

Gabe nearly choked on her toothbrush. “You want your kids to live, right? I’m way too stupid to be trusted with the well-being of tiny humans.”

“You’ll be fine. They’re practically unbreakable. I think they’re little superhero kids. And besides, it’s part of the deal, and I want it written into the contract.”

“Not fucking likely,” she muttered and washed her mouth out. She was about to run some water through her hair to pull it into some vague style, but when she looked in the mirror, it was in almost the same position as it had been when she styled it last night. The new product that the barber had given her had set hard enough that it looked like she could cut glass with the spikes. It was a bit flashy for an early morning run, but maybe no one would be around to see it.

Gabe walked back into the bedroom and wafted her hand in front of her nose. “Christ, you stink. Open the window.”

“That’ll be the Buffalo wings; I can’t handle spicy anymore.” Solo got up to let fresh air into the room.

Gabe grabbed the stuff she needed for her run and motioned toward the door. “Let’s go.”

Solo took a short pull from the beer on the side table and swished it around her mouth before swallowing it.

“I have gum in the car, nugget head.”

“I’m gonna need bleach to clean out my mouth before I go anywhere near Janie.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

Gabe pulled the motel door closed behind them and took a gulp of warm air into her lungs. It was already maybe seventy degrees and would hit eighty by lunch, but it was nothing compared to the sweltering July temperatures she was used to in al-Tanf. By comparison, this felt like autumn.

She and Solo jogged down the metal staircase to the parking lot and got into Gabe’s truck.

“I assume this old beater will be the first thing we restore?” Solo asked as she pulled her door closed with a creak loud enough to wake the whole motel.

“You know I’m a sucker for a classic.”

“What’s under the hood?”

Gabe grinned. “V8 396.”

Solo whistled. “Nice.”

The engine growled into action on the fourth attempt. “Our shop can’t come a minute too soon,” she said and pulled out into early morning traffic to head to Edison Park. “I’m desperate to get started on her.”

“No doubt. Are you restoring the original color?”

Gabe raised her eyebrows, already knowing where Solo’s line of inquiry was going. “What would you do? You’re the paint technician.”

“I’ve always liked the sage green, but I’d add the cream detail along the sides and on the cab.” Solo nudged Gabe. “Is that your deal-sweetener? I get to choose what color to spray your truck.”

“You’d change the red?” she asked, feigning incredulity.

“Red’s overdone. Cream and sage are more understate—ah, what am I thinking? I’d forgotten that you don’t do understated. How about electric purple in a metallic finish with a gold cab?”

Gabe punched Solo’s shoulder hard. “Now you’re being an asshole.” She liked garish colors on cars about as much as Superman liked kryptonite. “Cream and sage sound perfect, bud.” She turned onto North Lake Shore Drive and smiled at the view of Lake Michigan on her right. She’d always dreamed of living in Chicago. She liked the combination of big city and nature, but it was her dad’s bizarre fascination with gangsters that had first gotten her interested in the city.

“What time is dinner?” Gabe asked. “I’ve got an appointment at the Sanctuary at three, and I don’t know how long that’s going to take. It’s forty minutes outside the city.”

“Around eight, so don’t be late. Janie’s more of a stickler for punctuality than any of our COs ever were.”

Gabe nodded. “I’ll be there. I need to thank her for letting you join us on this adventure.”

Solo made a disapproving noise. “For your information, Jacko, I didn’t need my wife’s permission to come in on your crazy plan. I make all my own decisions, especially the ones that involve?—”

“Your wife’s money? Bullshit. You need Janie’s permission for everything but your bodily functions, and that’s as it should be. You wouldn’t survive without her.”

Solo feigned a look of offense for a millisecond before breaking into a belly laugh. “I’ve been ordered around by all manner of people, but I never enjoyed it like I do with Janie. She always looks so damn hot when she’s in full-on feminine power mode.”

Gabe had met Janie briefly, and it wasn’t a stretch to imagine her in that role. She was a beautiful woman and a high-flying lawyer at a top city firm. “You’re a lucky son of a gun. She’s way out of your league.”

Solo pushed up her shirt sleeves and tugged on her collar. “I still have no idea why she chose me, but I’m damned glad she did. So don’t go working your charms on her at dinner.”

Gabe gave Solo a hard shove. “Like you need to tell me that. I take the bro honor code just as seriously as my oath to serve my country. Seriously though, I’m so fired up that you’re on board. I texted Lightning, RB, and Woodchuck last night; they’ll all be here by the end of next week, so I’m going to sign the lease on the four-bedroom house today.”

Solo shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re all bunking together. It’ll be just like old times.”

“Aw, you can come over any time. You don’t have to miss out on all the fun.”

“I don’t really have time for that. The triplets took their first steps a few months ago, and Tia keeps trying to climb on Griff’s back. Once she masters that and they start walking instead of stumbling, all hell will break loose.”

Gabe didn’t try to stifle a laugh at her friend’s situation. “Rather you than me. I can’t believe you’ve settled down and had kids. I was sure you, me, and the rest of the team would end up in a gay version of Golden Girls, still single in our sixties.”

The smile on Solo’s face expressed her contentment more than a million words ever could. “Me too, buddy. But I got pulled into Janie’s tornado, and I haven’t touched the ground since.” She unwrapped a stick of gum and folded it into her mouth. “Maybe the same thing’ll happen to you.”

“Yeah, right.” Gabe scoffed. “Is that why they call this place the Windy City?”

“Could be. Could be that there’s a stunning, long-haired beauty in killer heels and a power suit waiting for you to sweep her off her feet. Especially once we get the shop open.” Solo swept her hand across the air, setting the scene. “Her Aston Martin DB12 is going to break down in the middle of the city in rush hour, and you’ll drive to her rescue. There’ll be sparks—and they won’t be from the engine—and she’ll hop in your cab so you can tow her to safety. She’ll be in love with you before you even get to the shop.”

Gabe stopped at a red light and stared at Solo. “Who the hell are you? And what have you done with Hannah Smith? Jesus Christ, it’s like you’ve swallowed a dump truck full of Hallmark movies.”

Solo tilted her head from side to side. “Janie does like her romantic comedies, and I’ve grown to appreciate them. You will too when you fall in love.”

“Huh. That’s the litmus test, is it? I’ll know I’m in love the moment I subscribe to the Hallmark channel.”

“You mock, but I’ll bet you a hundred bucks that’s how it happens.”

“The car breaking down or the movie subscription?”

“Both.”

“That’s gonna be the easiest one hundred dollars I ever make.” Gabe pulled away from the light and couldn’t stop chuckling. “Man, you’ve changed. Just know that I don’t want you painting hearts and flowers all over my truck when I let you loose on her.”

“Hey, I’m not that far gone.”

What little traffic there’d been virtually disappeared as they got closer to Edison Park, and they continued to chat about nothing and everything. The three years they’d been apart melted away like the fog dissipating over the lake. Everything Gabe had dreamed about for the eighteen months it had taken to separate from the Army was finally in motion. The Famous Five were reuniting, and the plans they’d always talked about on those long days and nights out on patrol in Syria were coming together. Solo’s buy-in was the last chunk of finance in place, but really, Gabe was the final jigsaw piece they’d all been waiting for. Now they’d get to see what their picture was going to look like for real.

And Gabe couldn’t wait to get started.