Epic: Book 02 - Outlaw Trigger (9 page)

Torokin nodded. “You are correct.” He glanced at the guards as they walked past. “Have you become acclimated in the base?”

“
As acclimated as one can become on their first day here,” Archer answered. “But yes. The layout’s not hard to learn. I’ve been about.”

“
Will you sleep tonight?”

Archer laughed. “I suppose that I must. The excitement will die down, I am sure.”

“
It will,” Torokin said, “when you realize we are more politicians than soldiers.”

“
There’s nothing wrong with a good politician,” said Archer, “as long as he or she gets things done. Am I not correct?”

Torokin scrutinized Archer. Nothing about politics was good. Not one thing. “If you believe you are correct, then you must be.”

“
I believe that I am,” Archer answered, “because I believe in the power of a common goal. I believe that a common goal can overcome any obstacle. I believe that men can work together.”

Torokin felt his disappointment sink in. Archer was just as he’d thought. He wasn’t a soldier. He was a talker. And this was a war. “You had better get sleep, then, Judge Archer. Training for this job does not last very long.”

Archer smiled warmly. “I’m sure it doesn’t.” As he stood by the exit to Confinement, he extended his hand to the Russian. “It was good to see you again, Judge Torokin. I’m excited for work to begin.”

“
As am I,” Torokin said. “As am I.”

The two men bid one another farewell, then went their separate ways down the halls.

As for Torokin, the late night excursion failed to bring any alleviation of his restlessness. He entered his room nonetheless, locking the door behind him, and once again slipping beneath the covers of his king-sized bed—to once again attempt to enter the realm of dreams. To dream of the one thing he wanted to do more than anything. The one thing that brought him any sense of rest. To dream of war.

He never fell asleep once.

6

Tuesday, August 2
^nd
, 0011 NE

1025 hours

Novosibirsk, Russia

Morning

Varvara whipped up from underwater, her wet hair slapping her back with a splat. Her devilish grin slid to Jayden, as she slicked back the rest of her dusty blond locks. The nearby men gaped as she cavorted toward him.

Jayden cheered as she pulled him below.

Scott laughed from his perch at the edge of the pool. As promised, the Fourteenth was delivered from the chore of an outdoor session and taken to the gymnasium-sized swimming pool. The eight o’clock wakeup was an added bonus. He hated not sticking to schedule, but seeing his teammates having fun made it worth it. Even if they were a bit too impassioned for his taste.

Galina was leaning against the poolside next to him. They’d been observing the other operatives for a while. “You made them happy. This is why they love your week.”

Scott smiled. They did love his week. They loved it because it was the week they got a break, but still managed to work. It wasn’t always fun and games, nor had it been that morning. He ran them through various water exercises, then they swam laps for almost forty minutes. But there was always a wind down. That’s what they loved. “They needed some fun,” he said. “That’s why God made me.”

“
I would hope that He made you for more than that,” she laughed.

Scott returned his gaze to the pool. God had made him for more than that. His relaxed flexibility was just an added bonus.

He chuckled as Jayden and David thrashed around in the water, then his eyes settled briefly on Varvara. He averted them immediately. He could only look at a swimsuit-clad Varvara for so long before discipline turned him away. Becan had once described her as ‘drop-dead delicious’ to watch. Scott had another
d
word in mind: dangerous. Despite Varvara’s pleasing personality, she had a wild streak a dozen miles wide. She was a sin waiting to happen.

“
Nicole will be here soon,” Galina said in a measured tone.

“
Friday,” he said. “I still can’t believe it.” Jayden could keep Varvara. Scott had Nicole, and she was all he wanted. She was beautiful
and
pure. “You’re going to love her when you meet her.”

“
I am sure that all of us will. We have heard so much about her already.”

That was because he loved to brag about her. About the little things she did that made him smile, and about the days when a visit from her was all it took to complete him. He hadn’t had one of those days in a while. That was about to change.

“
What will you do?” Galina asked. “While she is here? She will sleep in your room, yes?”

He nodded. “I’ll stay in Room 14.” Galina always respected his convictions. That was another thing he liked about her. She accepted the fact that Scott would sleep in a separate bed. Unlike the others.

“
When will you marry her?”

“
I honestly don’t know.” It was the second time someone had asked him in as many days. It was something he needed to address while Nicole was visiting.

“
There will be many broken hearts when you do, I am sure.”

Scott laughed. “Not in Russia.”

She hit him with a smug look. “Maybe I will have broken heart.”

“
I’m sure you will,” he said as he swiveled to face her. Another reason he enjoyed Galina was because she was safe. She wasn’t a threat, nor did she try to be. They could pick, and it didn’t mean a thing. Not every woman was like that.

She exaggerated a sigh and looked away. “If only I were younger. Then I could attract the good boys.” She stretched her arms in preparation for a swim.

“
Your man is coming,” Scott said. “Just give him time.”

She tossed him a wry little smile. “I will not wait up for him. He must catch me first.” She shoved back into the water. “Goodbye for now, my secret American love.”

“
Don’t tell anyone.”

She laughed and swam away.

Scott watched her go for a moment, then his focus averted to the rest of the pool. He watched as his teammates splashed around and fought with one another. It was satisfying to see them having a good time.

He scanned the water until his eyes caught Maksim. The rookie demolitionist was in the midst of a mellow conversation with Boris and Max—the two technicians. It seemed appropriate. But where was Esther? His eyes skimmed over the water’s surface, but she was nowhere to be found.
Maybe
she
went
to
the
restroom
. He was sure she hadn’t just disappeared.

He leaned his head against the poolside, stretched out his arms, and closed his eyes to relax.

Esther gasped as she emerged from underwater. Her hair was plastered over her face, but a quick down-and-up dunk slicked it behind her head. She wiped the droplets from her eyes and grinned. “How was that?”

Becan’s eyes widened as he clicked his stopwatch. “Tha’s bleedin’ amazin’! Tha’s almost six minutes!”

She pursed her lips. “I’ve done better. The best I’ve held is six-and-a-half.”

“
How’d yeh learn to do tha’?”

She smiled. “It’s a part of scout training in
Philly
.”

“
Righ’, but why?”

“
It’s all part of tactical observations. Sometimes you’ve got to stay hidden.”

“
Yeh mean all scouts can hold their breath for tha’ long?”

“
No way,” she winked. “I was choice, no competition.” As Becan laughed, her eyes fixated on the pool’s edge. They lingered on Scott for a moment, then they returned to Becan.

Becan raised an eyebrow. “Wha’s tha’ abou’?”

“
I’m sorry?”

“
I saw yeh givin’ Remmy the once-over, don’t pretend tha’ yeh didn’t. Yeh fancy him or somethin’?”

“
My left foot!” she said, almost blushing.

His eyes narrowed. “Then wha’s it abou’?”

Esther’s gaze settled on Scott again. She fell quiet as she observed him. “Is he the Golden Lion?” she finally asked.

Becan nodded his head and dog-paddled.

“
Have you fought alongside him much?”

“
I have. I was with him in Chicago—we assaulted the Carrier together.”

“
Get away! You were there in Chicago?”

“
I was.”

Her lips remained pursed, as she dipped her head to her neckline. “He’s really that good, then?”

“
He is. As class as I’ve ever seen.”

Esther watched Scott from the center of the pool. “The Golden Lion,” she whispered. “When we met in the hangar and he introduced himself, I
knew
his name was familiar. Is there a side to him?”

“
There’s not. He’s sound through an’ through.”

“
He seems it. Do you think I could talk to him?”

Becan hesitated. “Wha’ do yeh mean?”

“
Do you think I could talk to him? Is he approachable?”

“
Tha’ depends on wha’ yeh mean by talkin’ to him. He’s already doin’ a line, yeh know—girl from America, she’s comin’ this week.”

She squinted her nose. “I don’t want to
pull
him, I only want to chat.”

“
You
sure
yeh just want to chat?”

“
Last time I checked,” she answered sarcastically.

“
Dry up.”

“
Seriously,” she gave him a look. “Do you think I could approach him?”

“
You could. If yeh swim close enough he’ll probably start blatherin’ on annyway.”

“
Really?”

“
Really,” he said.

“
Fancy that.”

Scott’s head leaned against the pool’s outer rim, and his eyes were still closed. It had been a great idea to bring everyone for a swim today. They were all having a good time. He didn’t mind having the reputation of being the easy-week officer. His week was a good transition into Dostoevsky’s week, which was the worst by far. Even Clarke and Max dreaded it.

Scott opened his eyes and lifted his head upright. He scanned the pool. Maksim was still in conversation with Max and Boris. Galina was in the middle of her laps. Clarke shared a word with Oleg Strakhov, as David and Travis chatted on from afar.

He turned his head only to be surprised by Esther, as she waded meters in front of him. So she
was
still there. She must have been underwater before. “How goes it, Brooking?”

She smiled hesitantly. “Very good, sir. I could get accustomed to this every day.”

“
Don’t. You’re catching me in a good mood on a good week.”

She laughed and cocked her head. “I’ll do my best to take advantage of it, sir.”

She had a good attitude. She had struck him as a good girl from the get-go. “You get everyone’s names down yet?”

Esther’s smile lingered. “Yes sir, mostly. Some of the Russian names are hard to pronounce, though.”

“
It’ll all come. We’ve got a pretty friendly group.”

“
I’ve noticed as much, sir.”

“
Some are more friendly than others.”

She laughed, and her mocha skin blushed a shade of red. “I think I’ve noticed, sir. Is his name Becan McCrae?”

“
Watch him. He’s dangerous.”

“
I’ll do my best.” Silence lingered between them, as Esther rubbed her hand back over her hair. She flicked her gaze at him, as a water droplet fell from her nose. “Is it…all right if I talk to you for a moment, sir?”

“
Sure. Is something wrong?”

She shook her head. “No sir, not at all. I only want to chat.” She leaned against the pool’s edge beside him. “When I met you yesterday and you spoke your name, I knew it sounded familiar. Now I realize why.”

The Golden Lion. It was inescapable. Most people didn’t match his name with his title, until they saw him in his gold-collared armor. But then, there were always the observant ones who made the connection. Ones like Esther.

“
I can’t tell you how much I admire your accomplishments, sir,” she said. “I don’t mean that as flattery…I mean it as truth. There are lots of us who look up to what you’ve done. We aspire to it ourselves.”

“
I was surrounded by a lot of exceptional talent.”

“
Much talent is wasted by lack of leadership, sir.”

It was a wise statement. He couldn’t dispute it. “God opened a door, I just stepped through. It’s taken me a decent ways so far.” That was an understatement and he knew it. Only months ago, he’d been an alpha private out of
Philadelphia
. Now he was a bona fide lieutenant. Not even Klaus Faerber had reached officer status that quickly. Discreetly, Scott was rewriting the record books. Or not so discreetly, depending on how closely people paid attention to the news. Reactions always varied when he introduced himself.

“
You’ve used your position quite well, sir, if I may say that.”

Scott smiled a bit. “I guess I won’t stop you from saying it.” It was useless to disregard praise; he’d tried before without success. “Thank you.”

“
You’re welcome, sir.”