by Xavier Neal
Insanity
Havoc Series Book 3
By Xavier Neal
©Xavier Neal 2015
All rights reserved
Published by Entertwine Publishing
Cover By Entertwine Publishing
Photo by Mark Sands
Cover Model Lee Gibber
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
Thank you for downloading this e-book. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.
All character, places, and descriptions come from the imagination of the author. All are fictional and any resemblance to real life persons or places is purely coincidental
Unknown Days Til Deployment
For over the hundredth time, I carefully trace the sunflower on the cover of the journal. No exaggeration. I don't want to open this. I don't need to. But I know I should. I know that dad wants me too. That Slugger deep inside who has been banned from acknowledgment while I was training wants a peek behind the curtain. Wants to have a reason to speak up. He doesn't need a reason. He shouldn't get one. I won't give him one.
I toss the journal to the side so it lands where it always does. On the pillow I sleep next to. The pillow that months ago I dreamt of being occupied by Haven. Dreamt of a future with the woman I love more than myself. But that was months ago. That was when Slugger was still taking advice from Mindy. When Clint was looking at engagement rings against his father's will. But now Grim is back. And Grim dreams of nothing.
My cell phone presses against my ear as I flop down on the hotel bed. It rings twice before it's answered. “Marine.”
With respect in my voice I reply, “Sir.”
After a beat there's a long exhale, “It's damn good to hear from you son...” I smile faintly. “How was graduation?”
“First in my class sir.”
“Wow,” his voice is dripping with pride. “I'm impressed.”
“Thank you sir.”
Before I actually started school I figured I would be in the top of my class, but then the need to redefine myself all over again and re declare Grim to the world, caused me to push harder. At times too hard. Hard enough in fact, that I graduated with more than honors.
“You doing alright?”
“Yes sir.”
“Slugger.”
“Yeah dad.” I make the effort to fine tune the military down a notch. Remind him he hasn't lost his son again. “I'm fine.”
“Coming home?”
The dreaded question. The one that I knew he was going to ask me as soon as I made this call. My head falls and my free hand rubs the back of my neck. I don't respond.
“Okay,” is his answer, his voice trying to be strong but failing. What does he expect? What do I have waiting for me to come home to other than the same bullshit I left? “Did you call Mindy?”
Grateful for the change of subject I clear my throat. “Not yet.”
“Slugger...”
“I will.”
“Clint--”
“My word. Probably tomorrow. She doing okay?”
“Yeah. She's good.”
“And you?”
“I'm good too.”
“Good.”
There's a long pause and I know what he's waiting for, but I'm not going to ask. My hand grips the back of my tense neck harder.
“Do you wanna know about Haven?”
“No sir.” Thankfully there's a knock on my hotel room door, a faint voice calling out that it's housekeeping. “Dad I have to go.”
“Let me know where you're headed? If you can.”
“Will do.”
“Goodbye son.”
I hang up the phone without a goodbye back. There's another knock and I'm quickly reminded of exactly why I always put up the 'do not disturb' signs on the door. Except this is the one case, I'm glad I was disturbed. I have no desire to talk about Haven. I've gone the last three months successfully not having to speak a word about her. Not having her cloud my judgment. Not even having her on the radar.
Opening the door I'm slightly taken off guard by the sight of Glove and Lordy standing in the hallway, hands in their pockets, dressed in their typical bar gear, a lovely female with curly black hair, a slim figure and an innocent smile, waiting for me.
With one arm, I lean against the door frame when she smiles. “Your friends were right. You are a sight to see.”
I give Glove a glance to get rid of her, and he quickly says, “Thank you beautiful for doing your unspoken duty for your country. If you'd like to do another I'm in room 286.” The offer is followed by me opening the door wide to invite my brothers in arms in.
“How'd you know I was back in town?” I ask after shutting the door behind Lordy.
“Like anything gets past me,” Glove's remark receives a grunt from me. “And fuck you. It's nice to see you too.”
I roll my eyes. “Glove, when is it ever nice to see you?”
The reply is followed by a short smirk. He shoots one back as Lordy gives me a head nod acknowledging my safe, successful return. As much of a pain in the ass these two have always been, I'm relieved to see them. Yes. I'm glad they didn't go away to school with me, but it was different being apart. Part of me liked it. And part of me didn't. And that part of me, is a part I like to ignore. That same part that didn't always exist.
“Let me guess. You both finished training and want to go to celebrate?” I lean against the back of the door folding my arms across my chest.
“Not exactly,” Lordy grumbles resting his ass against the dresser where the T.V. is.
Suspicious I look at him and then redirect my attention back to Glove. “Speak.”
“I got this in my room.” He pulls out an envelope from his back pocket and offers it to me.
Cautiously, I transfer it to my possession, open it and pull out a crisp white folded card. On the inside there isn't much, but enough for it to have my attention.
Clint Thomas Walker
Michael James Love
Jody Eugene Lord
Your usual bar. Your usual spot.
Before I can comment Glove pipes up. “Isn't Lordy's middle name awful?”
“Shut the fuck up,” Lordy snaps.
“That's what you took from this little message?” my annoyance is obvious. “This is a real fucking problem.” I know why he does that. Fear. But he's a fucking Marine and there isn't time for his bullshit right now. Not with our full names on a blank piece of paper like this. Not with some unknown source waiting for us. “Where the fuck did you get this?”
“Like I said, my room.” Glove shifts around on my bed and finally settles his arms on his legs. “That shit was waiting for me on my bed when I checked in.”
“What did the front desk say?”
“They have no knowledge of how it got there. And when I demanded to see security footage, I was told I’d need a warrant. Do I look like a fucking cop?”
“A rent a cop,” Lordy chimes in not missing his shot.
“Shut it Eugene.”
“Enough.” I silence them both not in the mood to deal with their toddler antics. Not right now. Not when there’s a real fucking problem. I need to know who the fuck sent this. What was the point? And how did they know we’d all be here? And how do they know we have a usual spot? This feels like a high level threat. And very personal.
“What are we gonna do?” Lordy looks to me. I notice Glove does as well. That’s what they came here for. Guidance. Direction. They learned long ago to trust my moves and that I was the one who usually knew what the fuck he was doing. The Grim Reaper. Guess it’s
time to make sure that whoever sent this letter knows about my fucking nickname and how well I live up to it.
“We’re gonna go.” I reach for my coat that’s draped over the chair and shrug it on.
The three of us end up exactly where we’re expected, except I’m refusing to drink anything. I need to be on full alert. They each need to calm their nerves. Glove looks antsy and Lordy looks nervous. It’s hard to observe your surroundings when you’ve got alcohol in your veins. They know this, but they’re rattled. Whoever is watching probably knows this too. My eyes continue looking around the busy hole in the wall place full of fellow Marines, frat jerks, and women who are wearing just the right amount of nothing to let Glove go home lucky tonight with less than his usual effort. It’s winter for God’s sake. With tops like they’re wearing it’s a mystery how their nipples don’t fucking fall off. I fold my arms across my chest and look back at the two of them as they try to keep the mood light.
“Why do your parents hate you?” Glove taunts.
“My parents don’t hate me. It’s a family name.”
“Okay. Why does your family hate you?”
“They don’t hate him,” a strong female voice joins the table sitting down beside me, immediately crossing her stocking covered legs. “It’s been a generation name that started six generations back with Martin Eugene Lord. He gave it to his only son. Tradition stuck. While Lordy isn’t his parents’ only son, he is their first. So the name was passed down to him.”
Our attention shoots to this woman. Straight long brown hair past the middle of her back, slender frame, glasses, high cheek bones, pale skin, black business skirt, button up long sleeve navy blue top with a couple buttons undone. She has no wedding ring. No visible tattoos, and a very manipulative look on her face. She's the one who sent the message.
Before any of us have a chance to say anything she points to me. “Yes I am.” She turns and points to Glove. “Yes they are.” And with one more point to Lordy she sighs, “Yes I do.”
Seeing the two of them impressed instead of cautious reminds me yet again that I am the only one in this fucking batch with brains. I command, “Explain.”
“Oh Walker...” she clinks her fingers on the table slowly shaking her head. “I knew I could count on you to man up.” A school girl smile pops on her face and she continues, “However, I'm going to call him Grim.” She turns, “And you Glove. And you Lordy. It's best as a team we're all on the same page.”
“A what?” Lordy leans forward.
She's awfully sure of herself. She's got confidence. A hint of an attitude. Reminds me of a toned down business version of Leighyani. I don't like it. More importantly, I don't need it.
“Here's the deal,” she begins again, everyone at the table has their attention plastered on her. “I know you because I hand-picked you. Perk of the job really. One of the only, I guess.”
“What job?” I question.
She offers me another crooked smile. “Speaking of perks, you do realize betting that you'd graduate top of your class at Scout Sniper School won me over a grand? Would've been two, but I didn't wanna make the other boys jealous.”
“You bet on me?” the words are strained as they come out of my mouth. She bet on me like I'm some sort of fucking show pony. Like my career is a joke. Like my life sacrifices are the fucking punch line?
She gives me a sarcastic look before stating, “This is a one shot offer. And in order for it to work, it takes all three of you to say yes. This is not a pick and choose. This is not if one of you backs out we'll replace you. This is an all-in, balls to the wall kind of situation. I wanted you three because you're a team. A team that I didn't have to assemble. A team that already trusts each other. A team that has unspoken communication which is one of the most crucial and underrated skills in what we do.”
The woman has a valid point. And between the way she speaks, her knowledge, and the fact she just said what we do, it is safe to assume she works for the military.
“The only thing you need to know right now is I'm asking you to join a government sanctioned unit that does not and will not exist on paper. You're thinking Black Ops,” her eyes fall on Glove. “I need you thinking more like if Black Ops had a winner's circle with a VIP section in it.” Now that has my attention. I sit up straight and let my eyes narrow in. She sees the shift in me and leans forward delighted. “That's exactly what you wanted to hear right Grim? Be a part of something highly dangerous, highly elite. Something to keep you running from those problems at the front lines back home?” I keep my grim expression. She seems even more pleased. “Good. Your train has come in. But only...if you ride it together.”
Our eyes meet in a locked silence. Unlike the rest of her presence that is dark and double sided, her eyes are a light green shade. Almost kind. Like her weakness is closer than any of us realize. I need to know her weakness because from the sound of what she just said, she already knows mine.
“Uh...excuse me?” Lordy speaks up and she rolls her head his direction. “Do we get any more information like--”
Politely she cuts him off, “No.”
Glove tries, “How long--”
“48 seconds,” her answer is followed by her wiggling her eyebrows at him, “and counting.”
The two of them look at me. Fuck. I know that I want to say yes. Hell if it wasn't for the two of them I would've said yes before she finished talking. But I would never turn on my brothers like that. I wouldn't force their hand if they weren't for it. Especially because if we say yes to this, there's no retirement plan. There is no other family who's going to get it but us.
“Will our families be safe?” Is the only other question that matters to me. If what I choose to do with this career will directly threaten them, the answer is no. I meant what I said about dying for Haven to have one final breath even if she's not technically mine. She'll always be mine.
“Your families will be more than safe,” her tone softens as she looks back at me, the feisty woman she's been since she sat down on the back burner. “They'll always be watched for their safety when you're away. Guarded even if they aren't aware.”
Her words echo in my head. Watched. The realization that she's been watching us and digging into us has me curious. Does she know? Does she know what I did to protect Haven?
Clearing my throat, I turn my attention to my brothers in arms, my best friends, my family. “You in?”
Glove looks at Lordy who looks back at him. Silently I know what they're thinking. Glove's an orphan. No family outside of us to give a fuck about. Lordy on the other hand is just running from his, the question being does he give a fuck enough about them to stand down right now. Sure this nameless woman vows to protect them, but shit happens. Problems occur. Things slip. And most importantly, if he plans on returning to them, that might not be an option now. If he says yes, there's no turning back.
“Oo-rah,” Lordy nods at the two of us. We echo his call and place our attention back to the woman.
She has the devilish smile on her face once more. “Welcome to my team gentleman. I'm Jasmine.”
Morning of Unknown Training
It's 4 a.m. and the four of us are in my hotel room. Three of us have questions and one of us has the answers. We're not much further than we were last night except we know the letter culprit was a recruiter and as of now, our Marine status is permanently marked as “in training”. No more normal orders. No more normal deployments. No more normal anything. At least I think. She didn't say anything else after her name other than to meet back in my room at 4. After she slinked out they had a couple more drinks eventually crashing at 1. Still not enough time for any kind of decent rest, yet it didn't stop them. I didn't sleep at all. School hours didn't provide anything like I was used to. And with this fresh on the brain I can't expect my body to shut down. Not with this type of opportunity. Not with this many unanswered questions.
Jasmine raises her coffee cup to her lips leaning back on her palm, sitting on my bed like
she belongs there. She doesn't. The woman who does-- never mind. Forget it. I have. “You all look lovely this morning.”
“Do we not sleep in this unit?” Glove grumbles from the floor where he's lying stomach down face tilted slightly at her, eyes shut.
“You know why I like you Glove?” she says as she leans down looking at him.
His eyes pop open. “Because I'm irresistibly adorable?”
“Exactly.”
Her coo makes him smile and gripe to us. “Told you!”
“I think she's fucking with you dude,” Lordy sighs from the chair in the corner, leaned against my coat.
Suddenly Glove gets a confused look on his face. “Wait, are you?”
She snickers and takes a sip of her coffee. I'm not in the mood for their games. For this bullshit. I want real answers. And I want them right fucking now. Clearing my throat I take my strong stance once more. “Answers. Now.”
“Anyone ever told you, it's okay to complete a sentence?”
Glove and Lordy chuckle. The look on my face remains unamused.
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes. “Let's start at the beginning shall we? You three are now a part of an elite unit known as Hornet Ops--”
“That doesn't even sound cool,” Glove groans his face resting back on the hotel carpet with his eyes shut again.
Calmly she asks, “What do you know about hornets?”
“They fly.” Glove answers.
Lordy rolls his eyes. “You clearly finished elementary school.”
“They can sting multiple times. They're poisonous.” My response causes her to smirk.
“And they attack. Not just a little attack, but attacks big enough to bring down people and animals alike. In fact if you kill a hornet close to its nest it'll releases a pheromone, and anything that comes in contact with that is automatically a target. They're fierce. Fast. And scary as fuck.” The last line causes me to briefly smile. At least she talks like us. “And that's what you are. There are a total of 8 units that make up HORN. Two are stationed up north to take care of the threats on the east coast, two others stationed up north to take care of the threats on the west coast, and four are stationed down south to take care of whatever pops up.”