Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
There’s a faint rustling around the table as we know the meeting is wrapping up. Beside me, Sal raises his hand slightly to get Kynan’s attention.
Kynan looks his way. “What’s up?”
“I’m sure I’ll be an ass for asking this,” he says carefully, “but I would like some assurances that Hart is up to the task of this mission.”
A flash of heat boils me from the inside out, and my head snaps to the right to glare at Sal. His eyes are pinned on Kynan, though.
“She’s up to the task,” I hear from across the table, and I slowly turn to look at Bodie. He has cold, hard eyes locked onto Sal, daring him to argue.
Sal looks across to Bodie and his voice is neutral, refusing to engage in a fight. “With all due respect, Wright, I’d like something more than your word since you’re involved with her.”
I flush even hotter that my personal sex life is now out on the table as a concern for this mission.
“Rachel has medical clearance,” Kynan says in a tone that causes all heads to swivel his way. “She’s got two doctors who have verified she’s fine to go on any missions for the first trimester.”
“Again,” Sal says with determination to make his voice heard. “I’m sure she’s healthy and fit, but what if something were to happen to her out on the tanker? I don’t want to be a downer, but we need to consider that as a possibility. There’s not going to be adequate medical care, and then we’re down a team member.”
To my surprise, Jerico stands up from the end of the table. He slides his hands casually into the pockets of his dress pants. “It’s why we’re sending a team of seven rather than six. If something happens to Rachel, Bodie moves to her team. Sal… you’d take over as leader. Rachel knows the risks and accepts them.”
At this point, my emotions are all over the place. I’m pissed Sal would question my abilities, even if there’s something deep inside of me that admits he’s right to have the concern. I’m healthy, strong, and capable as anyone at this table. But it doesn’t mean I’d stay that way.
I’m also conflicted about Bodie defending me. There’s a part of me that thinks it’s sweet, because he knows how important this job is to me. But there’s a part that hates him doing so, too, because really… he’s not a credible source given his involvement with me.
“Fair enough,” Sal says, and then his voice drops two octaves. “One last thing… I’d like to respectfully disagree with the choice of Hart to lead the team. I think I’m better qualified and well… not prone to emotions.”
My head snaps back his way. There’s no denying Sal is the shit and could do as good a job running the team as me, but now he’s questioning my true abilities despite my pregnancy.
“I can assure you that I’m able to do this job without any issues,” I snarl. I don’t look at Bodie across from me, but I can see out of the corner of my eye when he straightens in his chair.
Sal’s not deterred by the sensitive nature of our discussion, nor how it borders on sexism and misogyny. “Hart… in the last week, I’ve seen you have an emotional breakdown at the gym and toss your cookies from the smell of a hamburger. I’ve got the right to ask these questions.”
Fuck… I know he does. I know it and I hate it, and I don’t know how to deal with it. Maybe I should bow out and just let him lead the team.
Maybe I should just stay behind and let someone else take my team.
“You two should battle it out,” Jerico says nonchalantly. All heads swing his way.
He looks right at me. “Hart… he’s got legit concerns.”
I nod reluctantly.
Jerico looks to Sal. “I think she’s capable but if you want her to prove it, battle it out.”
“What do you suggest?” Sal asks with his jaw locked.
Jerico gives a casual shrug as if he has no formalized plan, but I can see that he does. “Three events. You each pick one, I’ll pick the third. Best two out of three wins the honors of leading Team Two.”
“Knives,” Sal says quickly, leveling me with a satisfied smirk. Asshole picked that because he saw how badly I did and the resulting meltdown I had.
“Shooting,” I say, taking great satisfaction in watching him swallow hard. Sal is a good shot. One of the best at Jameson. I’m a million times better, though.
“And the third event?” I ask Jerico as I turn to look back up at him.
He shoots a look at Kynan, who gives a shrug. Jerico taps his chin as if deep in thought, but then he finally announces with a big grin. “A hot-dog eating contest.”