Reid - Maddie Wade Page 0,2
around and together they carried their friend’s body to the helo that would take them to safety.
His eyes never left Holler as Clay shoved an oxygen mask over his face and Reid let him. This mission was a fuck up from beginning to end. Lack of reliable intelligence had put them all at risk. He went over and over in his mind what he could have done differently. Trying to see if he could have saved Holler.
The three of them—him, Holler, and Clay—had gone through HRT training together, were thick as thieves and now he was gone. They all knew the risks but like so many, they thought they were invincible. Reid knew there would be an investigation into why he’d disobeyed a direct order.
He’d do it again though, because that girl hadn’t deserved to die for her father’s mistakes. It was a feeling he knew all too well.
Six Months Later
Reid walked out of the Director of the FBI’s office at Quantico and felt the sun on his face. He was now officially a civilian. His superiors, although understanding of his decision to go back, couldn’t ignore the fact he’d disobeyed a command.
The HRT only worked because the men were able to carry out their missions without questioning what they’d been told. Offered a desk job or the opportunity to resign, he’d signed his resignation letter there and then.
His best friend was leaning against the black pickup, his arms crossed over his chest when he left the building. “You quit?” he asked although it came out more as a statement than question. Clay knew him better than anyone, except perhaps his mom.
“No other choice, I can’t sit at a desk.”
“What you gonna do now?”
Reid slid into the passenger seat beside his friend. “Not sure, but a buddy of mine from Delta said there’s an opportunity he’s been offered in the private sector.”
Clay angled his body in the seat to look at him, raising his brow. “And?” He knew a but was coming.
“But it’s in the UK.”
Clay’s eyebrows shot up and he drew in a breath. “Wow. You considering it?”
That was the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question. Was he considering it? All his life he’d stayed close to his mom, helping with the girls since his dad had left when he was ten. She didn’t need him as much now. Nessa and Tori were older and finding their own lives.
“Yeah, I think so. The guy heading this new team has a stellar reputation and the team he’s putting together is in a class of its own.”
“What do they want with you then,” Clay joked as he started the car.
Reid laughed. “Yeah, good point.”
They drove in silence for a bit towards the local bar they had been frequenting since they were old enough to drink.
“Seriously, Reid. You should take the job. It sounds like an amazing opportunity.”
“Yeah, but mom….”
“Stop. You can’t hold your life back because your dad was a deadbeat asshole who left your mom high and dry. She and the girls will be fine, and I’ll keep an eye on them.”
“You could come with me,” Reid suggested.
“Nah, not me. I need to be stateside.”
Reid understood, Clay was close to his family too and travelled upstate to see his younger sister every weekend. “I guess I’m moving to the UK then.”
“Guess so, but before you do, you’re buying.”
“Will you keep an eye on Mom and the girls for me?”
“Sure, but you owe me.”
Reid laughed knowing that watching over two teenage girls wasn’t his friend’s idea of fun anymore than it was his. “I’ll owe you.”
“Yes, you will.”
Chapter One
The water was cool on his skin as he dove into the training pool at Eidolon’s headquarters to swim laps. Reid’s years on the HRT had honed him into peak physical condition but training with Jack and the men of Eidolon had kicked that up a notch. He was in the best shape of his life. The ache in his shoulders as he swam lap after lap tore his brain away from the rage that bubbled up inside him every time he thought of Gunner.
His friend, his partner on so many missions, and he’d betrayed them all. The worst of it was nobody knew why, or where he was. Maybe he’d feel better if he could just take the anger out on his traitorous fucking face. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen any time soon. The man was a ghost now, and because of the skills he had, could probably remain that way for a good long