Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
“Thank you, sir.”
“Call me Jerico when we’re not in front of the brass,” Jerico corrected him. “That goes for everyone.”
Scanning the small group, he looked at the only man he hadn’t spoken to. “Zale Reynolds, our medic. I know how important you are. I’m glad you’re on the team.”
Caden stepped forward. “On behalf of the team, Jerico, I would like to welcome you. It’s obvious to me you’ve done your research on our files. I am looking forward to working with you.” He lifted his hand and saluted Jerico. The other men straightened and echoed his gesture.
Lifting his hand to his brow, Jerico felt something click into place inside him. He was in the right place. Snapping his hand back to his side, he allowed his expression to soften. “Alright. Get me up to speed. What’s the training schedule?”
“I hope you have running clothes in that duffle. Today’s the long haul,” Caden informed him with an expression that told Jerico he didn’t want to ask the distance.
“I came prepared.”
Lifting the beer to his lips, Jerico mentally shook his head at the memory of joining the team. Caden was a crafty team chief. He’d thrown every adversary at the team to bond them together. It had taken all of their strengths to triumph over each challenge.
In the process, he’d discovered a lot about each man. Caden ran the team with an expertise and confidence that Jerico had never experienced. Zale Reynolds was a tough son of a bitch. He didn’t allow small injuries to worsen. The bear-like man, Max Zion, was incredibly light on his feet. He also had a steady hand and fingers so nimble they could master any challenge. Over the last weeks, Hank Murdock had become less remote. The man held some secret. Finally, Koa Lokela was ruthlessly focused and lethal. His covert skills were some of the best Jerico had seen. He was also fun-loving and a lady-killer, drawing women like beautiful moths to a flame.
“I’m not letting this beer get warm,” Zale announced as he picked up Koa’s abandoned beer. “How many women has Koa danced with tonight?”
“I can’t count that high,” Caden answered.
“Hey, gentlemen. Here are your pizzas,” their server announced, setting two giant metal plates on the table.
Her appreciative gaze studied them, taking in their hard, athletic bodies. “I’d ask how you could eat this much, but I’m used to soldiers inhaling food. All that running and stuff.”
“Thank you, Stephanie,” Jerico said smoothly. “Anyone need drinks?”
With a flurry of orders, Stephanie was distracted from flirting with them. She drifted off to get their drinks. Men greeted her as she walked through the crowd. Jerico suspected that as a waitress in the most popular combination pizza restaurant and bar, she gathered a lot of masculine attention from the military staff that frequented the gathering spot.
“Did you drink my beer?” Koa asked as he plopped into his seat. He wiped the sweat from his brow with one hand before he confiscated the bottle from Zale and took a drink. “I saw the pizza came.”
Jerico reached forward and picked up a piece of the one dotted with vegetables. Taking a big bite, he chewed happily. He didn’t splurge on empty calories often, but pizza was his weakness and the Italian pie here was amazing.
“You fucking loser. Why are you even alive?”
The loud voice made Jerico turn around. He was on his feet in moments as he saw a large man looming over a cringing woman.
“Hey! Back up!” Jerico yelled at the bully as he ran toward them.
“Fuck you. This is between me and my loser neighbor,” the angry man yelled, stepping closer to the woman, who tried to melt into the wall behind her.
“Behind me,” Jerico said quietly and tugged the trapped woman out of the space in front of the jerk.
“You shouldn’t have stuck your nose into this, soldier boy. Go back and play nice with your friends.”
“You seem to have made several mistakes today.” Jerico stood his ground. He could feel his team ranging behind him, but they wouldn’t get involved unless he invited them. Sizing up the massive man in front of him, Jerico knew he wouldn’t win a wrestling match. He did, however, notice a few weaknesses he could take advantage of if this went badly.
“I don’t make mistakes, asshole.”
Jerico moved to the right and dodged a blow that probably would have knocked him out cold. Fortunately for him, that swing did nothing but throw the brute off balance. He didn’t hesitate to use that to his advantage. In a few moves, Jerico pinned the jerk to the floor with his arm in perilous risk of breaking if he didn’t hold still.
“Get off me!” the man shouted.
“Not going to happen. You took an unprovoked swing at me. That’s going to get you kicked out of here for at least tonight, and probably for a while.”