DOUBLE TROUBLE WITH THE TWIN WOLVES 22

C H A P T E R T W E N T Y - T W O - - - M A D D I S O N

Maddison had never felt so relieved to be back in a place with the highest concentration of bikers per square foot in all of America. She'd dashed up to her room as soon as they'd returned from Ellia to check on her boys. Ryker and Reidan were both sound asleep, as blissful as ever, and Mary had dozed off on Maddison's bed.

She just stared at her baby boys for a few minutes, her hands on their bellies to feel their warmth. Tim soon followed, wrapping his arm around her waist and standing right beside her, staring at the kids.

"We're never going to leave you alone again, I hope you know that," he said flatly, without a hint of levity.

Maddison smiled up at him and shook her head. She took his hand and led him out of the bedroom, closing the door quietly behind them. When they heard voices coming from the living room, they both turned to walk slowly toward it.

"How did you guys get back so quickly?" Maddison inquired, intrigued.

She had anticipated that Tim would take a while to make the drop-off with Ace. Though, to be completely honest, she felt better the less she thought about the situation. She didn't want to dwell on weapons, explosions, spies, or terrorists for too long. That had been enough for her to last a lifetime by this point.

Ace moves quickly, Tim retorted with a shrug.

They entered the living room just in time to see Tom and Jordan having a heated argument while Jordan held up a syringe of something, and Jerome was looking pretty amused about the whole thing.

"Man, just take the damn shot."  Mitchell said, relaxing on a couch and looking over his equipment that was spread out on the table in front of him, "You don't need it to get infected."

As per usual, Shaun was by himself in a corner, remaining silent, but his astute eyes were keeping track of everything going on around him. Barry was sitting back in a recliner, sipping whiskey, and he appeared to be far too amused by everything.

Tom roared, "I'm telling you, it'll heal on its own. " Though some of the vigor left him as he saw Maddison and Tim enter.

Madison approached the chair Tom was seated in and sat down next to him, lowering herself onto the armrest with a hint of laughter. He started to relax a little bit when she put her hand on his shoulder. Of course. A woman's touch always seemed to be able to calm down both men and babies.

"Get the shot, hurry. Jordan is skilled at what he does," Maddison assured, nodding at Jordan.

"That is something I am aware of."  Tom sighed and tore his already torn pants wider at the thigh, exposing skin. "I don't fucking like needles though," he moaned. "All right, Doctor. Go nuts.”

"Don't mind if I do," Jordan said, inserting the needle into the flesh and emptying the clear liquid into the muscle in less than a second. "Don't think this means I don't have to clean up all of those wounds. I don't care how tough you bastards are; I'm not going to shoot you if you get an infection in the next jungle we visit because you were too manly to get your shit sorted when the time came."

Jordan looked stern and commanding as he pointed his finger at every single operative in the room. Maddison could almost hear the collective sigh as everyone said, "Yes, Doc."

When there was some commotion downstairs, Tom was handing her back her phone. Colonel Hemingway strode in with long, purposeful strides before Barry could get up to check on what was going on. Ace was the only one with him, and he was dressed casually, his hands tucked into his jeans pockets. Maddison could easily imagine him whistling a silly tune in his head, even if he was trying to appear serious.

Squad Six was up and saluting the Colonel who had stopped near Tim in an instant. He returned the salute, but Ace remained silent. His eyes were cold and irritated.

"Why is it that every time I hear about my operatives getting into nonsense, it's always you guys?" Is this something you enjoy doing? Do I not express myself clearly enough? You're not supposed to be seen, heard, or noticed. When there is no mission, you do not exist. "I don't care who you've been screwing," he said calmly, chilly, and piercingly.

Maddison found herself slightly pouting in her seat, but she quickly cleared that childish emotion from her face. She realized she'd gotten the entire squad into trouble. It didn't matter whether that was the intention or not.

"Sir, yes sir," the six ex-SEALs said tensely.

"And which of you was it this time?" ”

“Sir?" Jerome inquired, his brow furrowed.

"I'm responsible for this fucking mess." I'm guessing it wasn't you, Jerome. I'm hoping you've learned your lesson."

"I learn, but I don't think repeating one's nonsense is the path to enlightenment, sir," Jerome said, a faint grin on his face.

"It was us, sir," Tom said, Tim catching the end of his remark.

"Sir, he is telling the truth." It was just Tom and me. "We learned of a plot to kill a civilian in which The Firm was previously involved, and we couldn't sit by idly," Tim nodded.

Colonel Hemingway's gaze was drawn to Maddison, and she felt her body stiffen. Even she stood up now, despite the fact that she was far from a soldier, leaving Barry as the only one who remained seated.

"Dear Miss Beaumont. "I hoped we wouldn't hear from you again," Hemingway reflected, cocking his head to the side.

"I agree with you, Colonel," Maddison said.

That elicited a round of chuckles, extinguishing Hemingway's cross glare.

"She had their pups, Colonel," Ace said, his voice practically dripping with boredom at the situation. "From the train debacle in Manila."

"Did we find out about this?" Hemingway inquired, looking at Ace.

"Of course, sir," Ace replied, his toothy grin beseeching to be punched.

"All right, then. Gentlemen, congratulations. "I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to raise your puppies while you look for new work," Hemingway said, looking at Tim first, then at Tom.

Maddison spoke before she thought. “No! It's not their fault! " she yelped as she moved forward until Tom stopped her with his hand on her arm.

He shook his head slightly when she looked at him. It wasn't her battle. She bit her lower lip as tears of guilt welled up in her eyes. The job meant a lot to her wolves, no doubt about it.

"You lose the team if you lose those two, sir," Jerome said calmly.

"Does that constitute a threat, Lieutenant?"

" Hemingway inquired, his voice as still as a well's surface water.

"No, sir, it is a statement. We're useless if we don't have communications and explosives. It will take many years to rebuild us."

Mitchell, Jordan, and Shaun all agreed with a grumble.

"They did stop The Arctics," Ace said as he leaned indifferently against the doorframe. "I don't believe they pose a threat at this time. The Crawleys, like Jerome, have finally gotten it out of their system. And we saved the building and the Ellia research, averting a major crisis."

“We? " Tom enquired, snorting. "Like in The Firm?" Squad Six accomplished this feat with no assistance from the rest of The Firm."

"Squad Six works for The Firm, Sergeant. Keep that in mind. You were all battered and broken when you came to us. Yes, you've been trained, but you're still only shadows of the men you've become. And we can break you down in the same way we built you up. "Remember this," Hemingway said.

The normally unflappable, stern, but understanding Colonel was clearly irritated. According to what Tim had told Maddison, he was a very stable, balanced leader, the type of leader that men would gladly follow into battle. She had the impression that there was more going on than simple irritation at acting without command, but she was no mind-reader.

"Ultimately, it was going to be their mission anyway," Ace pushed, a sharp note now in his voice.

Hemingway faced him, his voice a low growl. "Ace, don't push me. The weapons remain unaccounted for. The mission, in my opinion, was not completed. The building was saved, and The Arctics did not obtain the desired formulas, but we are missing twenty-four highly dangerous explosives, and our job was to recover them."

Squad Six exchanged a few glances, but no one said anything. Ace locked his gaze on the Colonel for a long moment before nodding and shifting his gaze to the floor.

"Thank you, sir."

"Ray, I think you and I need to talk," Barry said abruptly, leaping from the couch like a bear emerging from hibernation.

He strode across the room, and the two big men exchanged glances before clapping hands and hugging in a display of pure brutal camaraderie. As she watched them, Maddison allowed a small smile to form on her lips. She'd noticed Hemingway going to great lengths to ignore Barry while addressing the squad, but she wasn't sure why. The two men were obviously old friends now.

"I don't think we disagree. "At ease," Hemingway said, walking out of the living room with Barry.

Everyone stood there frozen until they heard the kitchen door close and glasses clinking behind it. Tom slumped back into his chair as Maddison let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

"We're screwed. "Thank you, Ace," he said, frustratedly running his hand through his hair.

"Hold on, no, we're not," Tim said, looking at Ace.

"No, you're not," Ace agreed, his lips set in a thin grin that made Maddison want to tackle him and rip it off his face. "Don't worry; we'll find a way to keep your small jobs." That much I owe you."

“Wow. Ace admitting that he may owe someone money. This is an absolute first. "Alert the press," Shaun snorted, not usually one to get involved in such matters.

All eyes turned to him, then back to Ace. Ace's smile widened and he nodded slowly, as if he was planning how to gut Shaun later.

"I'll keep that in mind the next time you need assistance, Shauny boy." I'm confident you and I will have a great time together."

"All I'm saying is that when you start throwing out threats, man, you better watch your goddamn back," Shaun said, his eyes dark and stormy.

"Same to you," Ace replied, straightening up.

He was the tallest person in the room, and his slightly slimmer, but still thick and strong physique could have led Maddison to believe he was outmatched. She had the impression that the intel officer could hold his own. Maybe not against Squad Six in this manner—certainly not in this manner—but he had his ways. That much she could tell by the way his eyes flashed. He was a dangerous man, and Maddison hoped Shaun knew what he was playing with.

Ace quickly excused himself, and it was a tense hour as Squad Six and Maddison waited for any news or progress from the kitchen. Jordan eventually persuaded a few of them, including his brother Mitchell, to come in and have their wounds cleaned and checked. Maddison was surprised to discover that the cuts and bruises, which were only a few days old, were already healing quickly and only needed to be cleaned out a little to prevent anything from becoming stuck in the closing flesh.

She stayed close to Tom and Tim the entire time, or rather, they all stayed close to one another. They seemed concerned that if they went too far, they would lose each other again. It may have been irrational, but it had been a long few days and Maddison could use some stability right now.

When Barry and Hemingway emerged from the kitchen, both giggling at something or other, the room became tense once more, and the squad was on their feet.

"At ease, boys," Barry said, waving them down, and Hemingway nodded in response.

"Tom and Tim, Barry has been telling me about your children."

"He means I was reminding him of the nonsense he did when Nick was born, which should have resulted in a dishonorable discharge," Barry snorted.

"Sure," Hemingway admitted. "This is not the end. I'm not as soft and happy as my old friend would like me to be in my old age. However, I will think about it and have Ace look into the details further. Consider yourself and, why not, the rest of you on probation. Again. "Jerome, I want this to stop," Hemingway said, staring Jerome down.

Jerome saluted with a curt nod. "Yes, sir, yes, sir."

“Good. I'll be over for a beer tomorrow, Barry. Stop hiding my squads or I'll remove that tank. Can you hear me? ”

"Sure, you old grouch," Barry said as he waved Hemingway away.

The Colonel shook his head and walked out the door, grumbling to himself. When they were sure Hemingway was out of earshot, the room burst out laughing, with Mitchell nearly doubling over.

"So, none of you make babies with women who are being pursued by terrorists, okay? We've got that market covered," Jerome said, smiling and winking at Maddison.

She smiled and shook her head. What in the world had she gotten herself into? Because, after all, that's what it was. A household. Brothers in arms and in spirit. She sighed as her hands wrapped around Tom's and she could rest her head on his shoulder while Tim placed a hand on her back. It felt natural. She could make it work. She might enjoy it.

Maybe everything will be all right in the end?