Epic: Book 02 - Outlaw Trigger Read Online Free

far more important than any rookie they would ever receive. Friday, he would see Nicole.
    She was coming to Novosibirsk to visit.
    “ Friday can’t get here fast enough.”
    Galina sipped her coffee. “We have heard so much about your love for so long. You had better let us meet her.”
    David laughed. “Are you kidding? Do you actually think we’re going to see them? They’re going to spend the whole week in his private quarters, up close and personal.”
    Scott clasped his hands behind his head and winked. “You know it.” David knew exactly how the young couple felt. And exactly how they planned on spending their time. “I’ll only keep her locked in the room for a few days. You guys can meet her next weekend.”
    Galina laughed. “I am sure we are all looking forward to it.”
    Jayden sauntered into the lounge and scanned the counter. “Aw man,” he said. “You guys always drink all the coffee before we get up, and you never put another pot on.”
    “ Morning to you, too,” David said. “Remember when you didn’t like coffee?”
    “ Y’all got me hooked on that junk,” Jayden said. “And now I don’t have time to make any.”
    “ You got it tough, Jay.”
    “ I know. I oughta quit.”
    Becan slipped inside. “Top o’ the mornin’ to yis.”
    “ What are we doin’ today?” Jayden asked.
    “ We’ll run two laps, then hit a typical workout,” said Scott. “It’s beautiful outside.” It was. It was cooler than usual. Still warm, of course, but that was normal for the middle of summer. Even in a city like Novosibirsk.
    “ Why can’t we go to the pool?” Jayden asked with a frown.
    Scott shook his head in amused disbelief. Jayden was both the most lackadaisical and the most bellyaching person he knew. And probably the only person who could pull it off. “Because I said we’re going outside.”
    “ Man…you always make us go outside.”
    That part of Jayden’s statement was true. Scott loved to take advantage of beautiful weather. Football weather. Maybe he’d run some passing drills later that week. It was a bit unorthodox, but Clarke let him get away with it. It was a change of pace, and it was still being physically active. Most importantly, it was a memory of fun. Even for Jayden. “We’ll go to the pool tomorrow.”
    “ Yeah, yeah. You say that every time.”
    “ Dobry utro!” Oleg said as he entered the lounge. His black tuft was particularly unkempt. It matched the scruff of his beard to perfection.
    “ Dobry utro!” Galina answered.
    “ Good morning, Strakhov,” Scott said.
    Oleg grinned. “Good morning, my American lieutenant and friend! You have good news for us today, yes? We have easy day?”
    Scott slid his hands into his pockets. “Come on, Strakhov, you’ve been here long enough. My days are always the easiest days.” It was almost true. Clarke’s days were the easiest days. That was because with enough coaxing, the captain could be convinced of anything. Even a full day off.
    “ You are best lieutenant in all of Novosibirsk . I always do whatever you ask.”
    Becan eyed Oleg from across the counter. “Jay already asked him. We’re not goin’ to the pool today.”
    “ Chyort voz’mi!” Oleg blurted, then he looked at Scott. “It is okay, lieutenant. I still like you anyway.”

    The conversation drifted between the bunk room and the lounge, as it always did, about recollections of dreams, complaints about earliness, and comments on the weather. By the time the ten-minute rush of preparation had passed, the operatives were on their way out the door.
    Scott could scarcely wait for Nicole to meet them. She asked about them constantly, and he was always eager to share with her the latest from the Fourteenth’s rumor mill. The most recent rumor was that Jayden was pregnant. Becan was the originator of that one.

    Several units opened their days with morning workouts, one of which was the Eighth—the unit of William Harbinger and Derrick Cole. On some