Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84607 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
A couple of forks clanked against plates, and Monica raised her hand.
“Go ahead.” Coach nodded.
“So, there is a threat?” she asked. “And did Jasper really drop out?”
“Let’s get one thing clear, recruits,” Beckett said. “Every single day at Hillcroft comes with a potential threat. We have decades of inserting our operators into situations that put targets on our backs, and some of those follow us home. It’s why we’re strict on privacy. It’s why you were given the option to go by an alias.” He paused as he looked around at us. “Hillcroft on its own is always a target. Does that mean shit goes down here every week? No, of course not. I think we’ve been attacked twice in the last thirty years.” Coach was nodding along in agreement as he observed us. “On the other side of that coin is the number of times we’ve gone into lockdown—and I can tell you we’ve lost count. It’ll happen a few times a year, minimum.”
Welp. That was good to know. I shoved the last of my waffle into my mouth.
“To answer your question, recruit Bryant,” Coach said, “yes to both. Recruit Fuller also left us, and you let me know if anyone else wants to join. Life on the outside is a hell of a lot easier, I’ll tell you that much.”
Beckett wasn’t done. “It might be a good time to remind you that being an operator at Hillcroft is a thankless job. It might pay well, but you will never receive a medal, you will never be called a hero on the news, and you will never be able to share your tales of glory freely. We serve in silence—it’s in our creed. The absolute best operators this agency has ever seen are men and women you’ve never even heard of.”
I took a big bite of my apple and glanced at the others around me.
Who would be next to drop out?
“I can only get so horny,” Tanner said under his breath.
I couldn’t help it. I laughed and almost choked on my apple, so I slapped a hand over my mouth as all eyes fell on me—and Beckett lifted a brow at me.
My bad.
Even when shit went sideways, they clearly knew what they were doing at Hillcroft. By noon, my stuff had been delivered to my room, and the recruits with windowless units had been given special clearance to the rooftop terrace on the seventh floor.
Those dorms weren’t meant to be long-term residences, but honestly, I didn’t care that much. The compromise was sweet as hell. I was already planning on bringing some workout gear up there with me every morning before breakfast.
I wasn’t gonna need any outings. During lunch, I sat on my own—because Beckett seemed busy eating with two other recruits—and I did some online shopping. I ordered a new watch, a few books, better headphones, and more underwear. I just knew I wasn’t gonna do laundry once a week, so I wanted to stock up on the essentials. Oh, and I did a grocery order for my little fridge. I was all fucking set for weeks of staying on the premises.
I left the cafeteria after devouring a bowl of beef stew that got a solid three stars in my book, and I made my way back to the stairs. I was done waiting for the elevators to go up or down a single floor, especially this time of day when everybody was at work.
“Leighton!”
I looked back just as I tapped my ID card, and I saw Beckett right outside the cafeteria.
“Are you busy now?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I thought I’d get a head start on tomorrow’s task.”
The first one had been easy, and not in a good way. We were supposed to list everything we knew about South American wildlife—obviously without books and the internet to make us look good.
“Follow me instead,” he said. “Operator Payne just got here with Alex.”
Oh. Okay, cool. Time to meet the niece.
“Doc wants to reschedule your session too,” he added. “He’s busy with our German friend.”
Why would that fucker need a psychiatrist?
Screw it, I wasn’t gonna question Doc’s strategies. My session was postponed, and that was all that mattered.
He observed me like he always did. “I can get you someone else if you need to talk, though.”
“Hell no.” I pocketed my card again and walked toward him. “I’d rather you give me a crash course in how to keep your niece from crying. I have zero experience with kids.”
“Then you’re all set, because I could say the same, and she loves me for some unknown reason.”
I could think of a few reasons. He was dangerously easy to talk to, and I was sure an eight-year-old girl loved that. To me, it was a downside. He also exuded stability and strength.
“By the way, you should make an effort to befriend some of the other recruits,” he told me. “You could’ve had lunch with any of the others just now, but you opted to sit by yourself.”