Page 279 of 5+Us Makes Seven

“Fuck those caves. The only reason we’re still here is to protect the Chinese and American civilians who are pillaging the mountains like there’s no tomorrow.”

“You need to tell me more,” she said, her hungry eyes staring into mine.

“I said too much already.”

“Are you involved?”

I fired up the engine and put the Humvee in gear.

“Not anymore,” I said.

We rode back to the base in silence.

NINE

Jade

When we arrived at FOB Cobra, everything looked a bit different somehow. The knowledge of a huge conspiracy just out of my reach drove me crazy.

“You’re going to cut it out with the investigating, right?” he asked after parking.

“Yeah, yeah,” I lied. “Too dangerous for me.”

“Good. I’d hate to see someone like you get wrapped up in this. It’s been hell for me trying to get out.”

“Why is that?”

He grinned and pointed a finger at me.

“Ah, there you go again. Nice one. You almost got me.”

Out the window, Tony Roth rushed toward us.

“Fuck,” I said.

Cooper twisted around in his seat and opened the door.

“What’s up, Roth?” he asked.

“Captain wants to see her. Right away.”

“What about?”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said, climbing down from the massive vehicle.

When I walked around, I saw him staring at me.

“Be careful,” he said in a quiet voice.

“I’m always careful,” I said confidently as I walked past him.

Tony dashed back to the CO’s office building, reaching it before me. Cooper walked back to his CHU. I smiled at how familiar I’d become with the terminology in such a short time period.

Inside the long, metal building, my smile faded as soon as I saw Captain Jeffries behind his desk.

“What in the hell were you doing off base with Cooper?” he asked, skipping any form of greeting.

“Hello to you, too, Captain.”