Page 5 (1/2)

I was near death by the time ere excused

I hit the shoith the other four feuely recall being

I finished showering after theroup They never askedThey never really welcoet it Had a senior citizen joined our ranks, ould have welcoued with myself and headed for theback to CI?"

I looked up to see Master Chief Pete, calling me over to him as I crossed the square

I sela now, sir And yes and no I a a little refresher with you all, and when the kids are older, I will be coular h, right? This is just refresher so that when I go back, I’h I feel out of the loop now"

He nodded, "I’nizes you Everyone else is retired orwith us Come sit with us at the officer table"

I stopped, "Oh… uhm… that’s ok thanks, Master Chief"

He laughed, "It’s Pete, Evie, jeeze Mellow out" He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, "I was sorry to hear about your dad I hadn’t realized he’d been deep cover all these years" His voice was barely audible

I nodded, "You and lance, "And of course sorry to hear about Ja ht?"

He grinned, "That was ed the infa quite like a et the boys all cheering you on"

He pulled out a chair for er, "You’re not"

He laughed, "Sheila says hello, by the way" I laughed, knowing his as the true goddess of his universe His affections for -brother protection act made ave ossiped about me

Pete leaned in, "What’s the real story, Evie?"

I shook ela"

He scoffed, "Fine, keep your secrets But I do think it’s weird that a retired agent gets a new name, rejoins basic for three weeks, and I am not allowed to talk about the fact I know you"

My eyes sparkled, "It is weird" I sighed, "Can I just say that James left me quite the pile of shit to clean up and leave it at that?"

His eyes hardened, "He alas a piece of shit Your dad hated hih for you to know not to do it"

I sighed, "I kno are the kids?"

He nodded, "Good Older and sassy You kno it is Twelve and ten this year God help hters--ouch"

He speared his broccoli, "Yup So you outta here before tomorrow then, for real?"

I nodded and my stomach cramped a bit with nerves

He shook his head, "Wherever you end up, this nu the thunder down on whatever you are fighting" He slipped a white card with a nine-digit nuela"

Chapter Four

Sh My insides were in a knot When I saw the helicopter coot even more excited The idea thatinside My arms needed to hold them and check every inch of them for injuries I had not had the chance to kiss Happy tears hid in ot near I jumped out and tried to run for the helicopter, but it wasQuasimodo run, my body was bruised and battered Inside was a face I didn’t expect It wasn’t my mother or my children, but Jack He smiled at ry ones, "Where are they, Jack?"