Semper Mine (Sons of War #1)(8)

“I trust your brother’s judgment,” Captain Mathis replies.

“Maybe I should show him my leg, let him know how painful it is to have a limb cut off,” Petr says.

“Keep that thing in your pants, Petr,” I respond.

Captain Mathis chuckles. “I don’t think your team will let anyone near your sister, Khav.”

“I can take care of myself,” I reply. “I don’t need violent meatheads running my life.”

Petr says nothing, probably knowing there’s nothing safe to say.

“Remember. No jumping. No running unless it’s on the track or treadmill. Any pain or discomfort, and we –“ I start, going down the list of things the doctor warned me about.

Petr pretends to listen. I have a feeling his attention is on his friends, who he hasn’t seen since he came home.

Captain Mathis parks, and we all exit his monster truck. He goes to greet those he knows, while I wait with Petr. My attention shifts briefly to the flags flying above us. The US flag is at the top of the pole. Beneath it flies one with Mikael’s picture, like he’s looking out for us. It’s a nice thought, one I hope is true.

My foolish brother, Petr, is already lugging around packs as big as I am. He hauls it out of the truck bed with no apparent strain.

“Do you want help?” I ask, itching to assist.

“No, sis.” He grunts and slings it over his back. “You didn’t bring a sleeping bag?”

“Why would I?” I reply.

“Um, if you’re a counselor, don’t you sleep here overnight?” He gazes down at me, amused, his blue eyes sparkling.

Shit. I glance at the forest. I love it during the day. At night, when there are bugs and spiders and it’s cold, I’m not as much of a fan.

But if Petr’s staying, so am I. “I guess.” Sometimes I worry too much about him and end up messing up my own circumstances.

“Have Zach bring you some stuff,” he recommends.

Zach is one of our father’s assistants. Nodding, I pull out my cell and type him a note.

Petr goes to the others. Their loud greetings and bear hugs draw my gaze. I smile, thrilled to see the huge grin on his face. Captain Mathis is the only one in uniform, which doesn’t surprise me. He strikes me as the kind of guy who is never really off the clock.

“Not your usual ride,” Harris says, approaching. Handsome and lean, he’s got a trust fund the size of mine and aspirations of following his father into the family business one day. He’s smiling, but there is never warmth in his eyes. It’s one of the reasons that I sometimes don’t like being around him. He can be moodier than me, too, which I have no patience for.

“No,” I say. “Good to see you, Harris.” I give him a quick hug.

“Always happy to help your family, Kat,” he responds. “None of us knew how to show our support, so we jumped at the chance when Zach called.”

Then he says something sweet like this, and I tell the little voice inside me that thinks he’s creepy to shut up. With a father who doesn’t trust anyone and brothers convinced terrorists live in our basement, it’s sometimes hard for me to forget that normal people don’t suspect everyone around them of being up to no good.

“Thank you so much, Harris!” I squeeze him hard.

He laughs. “Anything for you, Kat.”

“Katya!” Petr calls.

I release Harris to see Petr waving me over. The others are gazing at me, except for Captain Mathis, who is looking at Harris.

I go and wrap my arms around Petr.

“My sister, Katya,” he introduces me and bear hugs me back. “Hasn’t left my side in four f*cking months.”

“Language, Petr,” I murmur.

He rolls his eyes. “This is my team. Captain Mathis you met, Riley Holland from the Navy SEALs, Ian Schneider from Air Force special ops, Carson Gray – a Green Beret Mikael and I trained with – and of course, Army Captain Harper Jacobson. She’s our bridge between the no man’s land where we operate and the rest of the world.”

“Nice to meet you all.” I shake hands with everyone except Captain Mathis. Knowing how rough things are where my brothers operate, I’m surprised to meet a woman among those he considers his teammates. Harper is toned and taller than me with a quick smile. I like her at once, especially knowing her job was to take care of my brothers.

“Oh, and Harris.” Petr motions to the man standing a few feet behind me. The way he says it irritates me, but I keep quiet for once, wanting to know a bit more about those he considers friends.

There are eight of us total to act as camp counselors and kid wranglers for the one-week program. I’m starting to think I should’ve paid more attention when Zack and Baba were explaining what being a counselor entailed. I’m not too keen on camping.

Petr is so happy, though, that there’s no part of me that’s about to complain about being stuck in the forest for a week.

Since joining the military, Petr has a life I can’t relate to. I felt left out many holidays when he and Mikael would return with stories about people they knew and places they’d been. This time, I get to meet his friends, and to spend a week with the man he’s become …

… while also ensuring he doesn’t do anything that the doctor has forbidden. I may not have brought my sleeping bag, but I’ve got a list in my pocket with activities he’s not allowed to perform and emergency numbers if he does.