The Navy's Ghost (Bad Boys of Beta Squad) Read Online Free

wounded in the latest op?”
    “No, Ensign. The squad came through without a scratch this time.”
    This time. Chris tried not to take it personally, but the phrase stuck in her mind. Intellectually she knew SEAL squads often sustained injuries, even death, but she couldn’t help feeling his words meant for her.
    Let it go, Brickman. The past is the past and you have to go forward from here.
    Chris found the Lieutenant Commander’s green gaze on her and swallowed against the apology burning in her throat. I’m sorry I let you down, sir.
    “I’m sorry, Ensign.” His face no longer hid his dismay. “I know this isn’t how you thought it would go.”
    D ammit, why does he have to be nice now? She just barely held back tears.
    “No, sir. ” She cleared her throat. “But as the doc says, I have a second chance.”
    Whittleton nodded . “Yes, she did. What are you gonna do with it?”
    Chris met his gaze and read the challenge there. “I don’t know, yet , sir. I’m still working on grokking my injuries, sir.”
    Some of the challenge faded from his eyes. “The entire squad has been hounding me for news on your condition and have petitioned for leave to come see you.”
    “The entire squad, sir? Even Rubenovich?” Chris raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
    Whittleton laughed. “Yeah, amazingly enough, even Deli.”
    “Tell them thanks for me, sir.”
    “Will do.” He stopped and dropped his gaze as he ran his fingers over the Budweiser, the eagle emblem, on his officer’s cap. “I want you to know we all grieve for your status change, Brickman. Retro and Magic especially.”
    “Really, sir? I suspected you’d all be turning cartwheels because you no longer had ‘Little Navy Jane’ in your squad. No more media circus, no compensating for the weaker—”
    “That’s enough , Ensign.” All the emotion left Whittleton’s face. “You’ve earned your Budweiser and your place on my squad. I won’t have you or anyone else deride your right to be there.”
    He stopped and his gaze fell on her leg, covered once more by the blankets on the bed. Fury flashed through his expression, but it disappeared when he raised his face to her once more. “You’ll always be Team 9, Bravo Squad, no matter what, Ghost.”
    T he nickname she’d received during their first mission after BUD/S training echoed hollowly in the room. She’d earned it for her abilities of infiltration and reconnaissance and bore it proudly. She’d earned it when an enemy guard once pissed on the wall right next to her with no idea she sat less than twelve inches from him. He’d zipped up his fly and marched past her when done. The boys had called her Ghost from then on.
    What do you bet I’ve lost the ability with this injury? Dread settled a little deeper into her belly.
    “Yes, sir. ”
    “ I wasn’t surprised when Master Chief Castle asked for you.”
    “You weren’t, sir? I’m damn near floored.” She grimaced and glanced over the edge of the bed. “Well, kinda.”
    The Lieutenant Commander’s smile filled his whole face and she paused to take in his beauty. He remained single, but she couldn’t help to wonder why. Probably the time spent away from home . Chris sighed as the pain killers kicked in.
    “Between you and me, I think he has a crush on you, Brickman .” Whittleton winked and Chris giggled.
    “Master Chief Castle, sir? ” She made a rude sound. “Not likely, sir.”
    Whittleton chuckled. “ For the record, I know you impressed the hell out of him when you went through BUD/S, especially Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape training. He swore you’d be gone the third week. Green, small, and soft is what he thought of you at the beginning. But by the end, he didn’t take anyone’s shit about you.”
    “Are you sure we’re talking about the same Master Chief who spent most of his time blaring his bullhorn voice at me , sir?”
    “The one and only Castle, Brickman. The minute he heard your news, he put in the