The end of the day found me with a cold beer in one hand, phone in the other, and agonizing over the decision to call Jackson Cole.
All it took was replaying Ward’s entire trial in my head for me to touch on the green call button. I simply couldn’t stand by and “get over” the way his court martial had been handled. I’d put my career on the line, and for what? A slap on the fucking wrist.
“Cole,” a gruff voice answered.
“Sergeant Bateman here,” I stated, setting the tone of our conversation early on; from one serviceman to another.
“And what can I do for you, Sergeant?”
I picked at the beer label as a means to separate myself from the nerves twisting inside my gut.
“I hear you employ vets.”
A scoff came through the phone. “Not just any vet. SEALs.”
“How’s your appetite for a Green Beret?”
A pulse of energy seemed to steal a split-second of time. Jackson’s tone changed from skeptical to curious.
“Army, huh? How many years have you done?”
“Fifteen all-up. Ten in the Berets.”
“What’s changed?” It sounded as if his interest piqued.
I huffed bitterly. “You heard about the court martial of a senior Green Beret accused of war crimes?”
Jackson hummed, and I took a quick swig of beer before elaborating.
“Well, that’s my teammate, and I was one of the key witnesses. Verdict came out today, and let me tell you, I’m not fucking happy.”
“So, you’re bailing?” he deadpanned.
That pissed me off. “Would you want to be deployed with a team member who’s mentally unhinged and not fit to serve? Didn’t think so,” I snapped when Jackson didn’t reply. “You and I both know that trust and loyalty in your team is all you have when you’re out in the fuck end of nowhere. If you can’t trust that they have your back, you’re as good as dead.”
I took another long pull of beer, hoping it would calm me the hell down. The news from today was still raw. I simply couldn’t let it go.
Jackson clicked his tongue while thinking. “Where are you stationed?”
“Fort Campbell, Kentucky.”
“Can you get yourself to San Diego? I’m looking to expand this office, so if you’re serious, I’ll set up a meeting.”
My heart kicked under the weight on my chest. Now faced with leaving the Green Berets, I was absolutely terrified.
“No obligations?” I asked.
“No obligations. And I don’t employ anyone until they’ve met the other guys here. That way I get a feel for if you’re right for our team. You may be good as an individual, but if you clash with what we have going on, then it won’t work.”
“I understand.”More than ever.
“How’d you hear about me?”
A smirk formed on my mouth. “Know a guy called Forrest?”
Jackson’s sharp bark of laughter took me by surprise. “He’s still around, is he? Yeah, I know Forrest.”
“He’s on my team,” I drawled. “He was also part of the shit that went down in the Middle East.”