When they were active duty, they used to celebrate after a successful mission too.
A smile tugged at his lips. “So apparently, some things don’t change.”
Mac laughed. “Yeah, except we don’t get shitfaced.”
“And Carter doesn’t pass out,” Hunter said over his shoulder as he exited the room, shadowed by a smirking Sinjin.
Holden chuckled and trailed his buddies, with Mac on their six. A sense of déjà vu hit him.Thiswas the comradery he’d sorely missed after these men had left him for civilian life. Technically, they hadn’t specifically left him behind, just active duty…and now, the military was in his past, as well. His smile broadened.
It was good to be with the pack again.
That thought followed him through the hall that led to the garage at the back of the three-story brick building. Headquarters occupied the first two floors, but the top floor consisted of two apartments. Both were secured stronger than Fort Knox, thanks to tech wizard Carter, who resided with his wife in one of them. The other apartment, according to Mac, was vacant and ready should they catch a bodyguard job.
When they entered the garage, they found the others already kicking back in the lounge area set up in front of a man-size bird cage, home to two hilarious, talking cockatoos. Lex and Marilyn, owned by Carter and Dex, entertained without provocation.
The two birds were definitely the company mascots, even though ESI stood forEagleSecurity and Investigations. Holden already knew the comical duo would relieve stress with their banter.
“’Bout time youlollygaggersjoined us.” Carter snickered.
“Lollygaggers,”Lex immediately repeated.“Gaggers…gag me…a spoon.”
“Lollypop…lollypop,”Marilyn chimed in.“Oh…lolly lolly…pop.”
“Pop goes…the weasel,”Lex said before both birds fell silent.
Holden chuckled with the others as they all sat down.
“Hey, Carter, your bird’s talking about you,” Cooper, one of the SEALs, joked.
More chuckles erupted.
“Nah, that’s his code name for you, squid.” Carter grinned.
“Squid…squidward,”Lex squawked.“Barnacle for brains.”
“That’s right, Lex.” Carter turned to his bird, the grin widening on his face. “Cooper has barnacles for brains, indeed.”
“Yeah, but at least I have a brain,” Cooper volleyed.
Carter snorted, nodding toward the mixture of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages on the coffee table that centered two couches and several large chairs they all occupied. “As much as I love besting you, Coop, the beer’s getting warm.”
An oversized area rug anchored the seating area, just like the mats did for the sparring section next to two company SUVs in the back of the garage.
“Pretty sure he’s more concerned about his wife getting cold,” Cooper remarked with a grin.
The other twosquids, RJ and Dean, nodded.
“No offense, Rylee,” Cooper added, sending a contrite gaze to the only female at ESI.
The clever, capable beauty was also Gabe’s sister and Dex’s wife…and pregnant, but she refused to sit behind a desk. Although, he knew as she got further along, there was no way Mac, let alone Dex or Gabe, would allow her out in the field, even on easy cases like the one they’d just completed. Rylee had been in a security booth watching the monitors.
“None taken.” She grinned, sitting on Dex, who set at hand on her belly and looked as if he was the richest man in the world.
Holden had heard about their courtship but man, he wished he’d been around to witness it firsthand.
Carter snorted. “Don’t go trying to play innocent, Coop. You can’t tell me you don’t want to get home to my sister.”
That was another courtship Holden had missed, but it hadn’t surprised him. Come to think of it, neither had Dex and Rylee. The attraction had always been there between the couples. It was only a matter of time. Leaving the military behind had no doubt spurred both men to finally take action. Now Cooper had a wife and baby girl, and had never looked happier.
