Page 14 of Grayson

The boss opened a ledger and turned one page with deliberate care. Columns of dates and numbers ran down the paper in neat black ink.

“When do the next shipments arrive?” Kyle stared at him.

“That can wait.” The boss’s hand went still.

“Nothing waits. When?”

“Thursday night,” Kyle said. “If the northern road stays open.”

“How many?”

Kyle hesitated. Figures were currency here, and a wrong figure could purchase a grave.

“Two different acquisitions. Six in the first, maybe eight in the second. The final count hasn’t been confirmed.”

“Then confirm it.” The boss closed the ledger. “The mountain operation is finished. Burn what remains, move the men, and prepare the river site before Thursday.”

“No.” The word struck the room harder than a shout. Kyle saw the guard by the door shift his weight, one hand slipping beneath his jacket.

The boss did not look at the guard.

“You misunderstand your position.”

“Jennifer made me look weak.” Kyle could feel the old humiliation reopening, hot and raw. Her escape, the ruined cave, the scar she had left across his face years ago, each memory had become a nail driven deeper by every hour she remained free. “If she talks, she may be able to identify routes, names, storage points. She is not a loose end. She is the rope around our necks.”

“Our necks?” The boss’s voice softened. “Do not confuse your wounded pride with my empire.”

Kyle planted both hands on the desk.

“I can bring her back.”

For the first time, the boss smiled. It was a small, bloodless curve that made the room seem colder.

“I will not risk years of work, millions in movement, and every man whose silence I own because you cannot endure being defied by one stupid female.”

Kyle straightened slowly. Beneath his anger, something more dangerous took shape. The boss believed obsession made a man careless. Kyle believed it made him patient.

“You will oversee Thursday’s arrival,” the boss continued. “You will count every person, inspect every vehicle, and report every delay. If you leave your post to chase Jennifer, I will consider you a defect in the operation.”

Kyle knew what happened to defects. He had ordered enough of them removed himself. He nodded once, lowered his gaze, and gave the boss the obedience he expected to see.

But as Kyle left the room, his fingers closed around the torn photo of the woman who had killed his friend, all of his friends, his entire brotherhood died because of her. She might be one female but he would never underestimate her again and he damn sure wouldn’t forget her name. Jennifer.

“I’m coming for you.”

CHAPTER TEN

Three large tables had been blocked off in the mess hall for the team. Other Marines stared at Grayson. He was a favorite of the General and in fact, of most men in authority. But this was different.

No one recognized the men’s faces, but they recognized their bearing. The way they stood. They way they folded their arms, rippling muscles corded from wrist to shoulder. The tattoos that said, ‘don’t fuck with me’, without saying it.

Whispers at the tables made them even more curious. Moose, with all his nerves bundling together, went back to the chow line for his third plate of food. The others just laughed, shaking their heads at him. He had an appetite like Tailor and Alec, but a younger body that could take it.

Staring at the options in the line, he contemplated between roasted carrots and green beans. He knew they would both be delicious. He’d already had them but he wanted to leave plenty of room for more roast and then dessert.

“Hey, old-timer, move it along,” said a young Marine behind him.

The sound carried through the hall as the men seated with Grayson all turned and stared at the brazen kid. He thought because he was muscular, because he’d earned the right to be called ‘Marine’, he had the right to be an asshole as well.