Savage Awakening (Alpha Pack #2)(67)

How could he seek absolution for a sin Micah wouldn't even recall?

Micah's smile lit his scarred face. Aric managed not to react to the sight of the puckered skin pulling at his cheek and the corner of his mouth. The man would get the wrong idea.

"Aric! Jesus, it's good to see your smart-ass self." He held out a hand and Aric shook it carefully, avoiding the IV.

"It's great to see you sitting up, bullshitting everybody with that trademark charm," he said with a smile that felt strained. Fortunately, his friend didn't notice.

Micah snorted. "Charm? Well, it's not working or the docs would let me out of here."

"Soon. Don't push yourself."

"Hey, we've been here awhile," Jax interrupted. "We'll go so you guys can visit. Micah, it's great to have you back. You'll be in the game again, kicking demon ass before we know it."

The trio took turns shaking his hand and slapping his back before making a noisy exit. Micah chuckled hoarsely and regarded his sister and Aric, the facade of good humor sliding off his face.

"How are you, really?" Aric asked, taking a seat. Rowan pulled up an extra chair next to him.

"Tired," he admitted. "I feel like I've been dropped on my head. It's like I went to sleep, opened my eyes ten minutes later and all these changes had happened. Half our guys dead or missing."

Resting his elbows on his knees, Aric steeled himself. "You don't know how sorry I am about that, buddy. I trusted someone I shouldn't have, and it was my-"

"Your fault. Yeah, yeah, Jax just fed me the same line of crap." He shook his head, pinning Aric with a determined gaze. "Jax said Beryl was his girlfriend-which I remembered-and she betrayed us all. I don't remember that part. He also said Beryl is your stepsister, but he didn't blame you for her actions. Neither do I. Hell, I don't blame anybody. I just want to get better and get on with rejoining the team."

"You might feel different when you remember what you went through. You might hate me." Whether Micah did or not, Aric hated himself enough for both of them. He'd take that to his grave.

"No. Not gonna happen." His friend raised a hand to his ruined cheek and his brown eyes darkened. "I owe some motherf*ckers for this, but not you and Jax. You're my brothers. That's the way it is."

The man was putting up a brave front, and that's exactly what it was, but Aric let it go. No point in dragging down what little confidence his friend was attempting to muster. He cast about for a way to change the uncomfortable subject, but Micah did it for him.

"So, sis, what's the latest from the LAPD? You've got to get back soon, don't you?"

"Actually, that's what I wanted to discuss with you. I have to go back day after tomorrow, take care of my business. I'm not sure when I'll get more vacation time to come back," she said anxiously.

"Listen, don't feel bad about that." He waved a hand in dismissal. "You have a job, Ro. It's not like we're frigging independently wealthy that we've got a choice in whether to work. Go. I've got the whole team and staff to baby my ass."

Rowan laughed, though her expression was still worried. "If you're sure..."

"I am. Just say good-bye first."

"You know it," she said softly.

"So what's new in the land of fruits and nuts?"

She snickered at his old reference to California, and launched into some recent tales from the trenches. A drunken streaker they'd arrested one night, a catfight between two women who'd ripped each other's blouses off, and a bank robber whose car wouldn't start after he'd done the deed. There were more, and she had Micah smiling, troubles forgotten for just a little while.

Aric, on the other hand, sat almost gasping for breath, sweat rolling down his spine. His temples. Trying to act as though nothing was wrong.

If he could last two days, it would be a miracle.

* * *

That evening, Aric, Rowan, and the rest of the gang were eating dinner in the cafeteria when Nick strode in, obviously a man on a mission if his serious expression was anything to go by. Conversation tapered to a halt as their commander stopped in the middle of the area and addressed everyone.

"I got a call from Jarrod Grant," he announced. "Orson Chappell and Beryl have been located. Finish your dinner and let's meet in the conference room in fifteen. I want A.J. and Rowan in on this, too."

Setting down his fork, Aric wiped his mouth with his napkin and tossed it onto his plate. He hadn't been able to muster much of an appetite anyhow, and this killed it. Glancing at Rowan, he entertained absolutely forbidding her to ride along on this op, but figured that would go over real well. Not. Besides, Nicky had a reason for requesting her involvement. He'd tell them why himself.

Aric waited as Rowan and the others quickly downed their meals, and then they all filed out, making their way to the "war room," as he thought of it. Everyone took seats at the long conference table except Nick, who stood at the head of it holding a small remote control. Once the group was settled, he began.

"Grant sent us footage, courtesy of the military, of a remote cabin in East Texas where Chappell and Beryl are reportedly holed up. There's no evidence that this is a lab facility-it's just a cabin. But it's a very well-guarded one."