Epic: Book 02 - Outlaw Trigger by Lee Stephen Page A

She was the first friend he’d earned there. The first one who’d given him a chance.
    David shot him a funny look. “Why say it like that?”
    Glancing at David, Scott quickly shook his head. Nicole, idiot. He meant Nicole. “No, that’s not what…” he laughed pathetically. “That’s not what I thought you asked.”
    David raised an unexpectedly suspicious eyebrow. “What’d you think I asked?”
    “ It was nothing, man, I mean it. Don’t worry about it.”
    “ Are you okay?”
    “ Yeah, I’m fine. And yes, I’ve missed her like crazy.” More than anyone else.
    David was silent.
    Scott looked at his watch again. It was still late. Immediately, the nightmare scenarios ran through his head. Maybe something had happened. Maybe the transport had crashed, or maybe it got attacked. No, that was impossible. That was too much, even for fate. It was just running late. It was just running one minute late. That kind of thing happened all the time. They probably had hit turbulence.
    “ You know I’m jealous of you, right?”
    Scott turned to David. “I know, man. I wish so much that you could see Sharon.”
    The older operative chuckled. “Don’t sweat it. I’m just messing with you.” He held his breath for a moment. “Mostly.”
    Scott laughed and turned back to the strip. He wondered what Nicole would look like. How would she have her hair? Would it be up? Would she have it down around her shoulders? Maybe she’d wear a ponytail. It didn’t matter how she wore it. As long as it was her hair on her head, he’d be the happiest man alive. He couldn’t stop looking at his watch.
    1404.
    Where was the stupid transport? It was a civilian transport—that was the problem. If it was the military, it’d be on the second. But these civilian airbuses were never on time. At least, sometimes they weren’t. Every now and then.
    God, let her be okay . Please . If I never ask for anything again, just let her be okay .
    “ Calm down,” David said. “You’re making me nervous.”
    “ She should be here. I don’t see anything yet.”
    “ Maybe she got cold feet. Maybe she met a handsome Russian at the airport and they’re running off to get married.”
    Scott glowered at him. “I’d better get invited to the wedding.”
    “ You won’t.”
    “ Why not?”
    David motioned to the sky. “Because there she is.”
    Scott snapped his gaze back, where his eyes scanned the skyline. The moment he saw it, his pupils grew wide.
    There it was. That tiny glint in the distance. There was the love of his life.
    He could barely control himself.
    “ Breathe,” David said. “In, out, in, out.”
    “ I’m breathing.”
    “ Now remember—watch the public displays of affection in front of all these Nightmen. I don’t want you two to get mowed down for a kissing violation.”
    Scott brushed the hair above his ears. “I look okay?”
    “ Like a monkey.”
    The speck grew larger. It was more than just a speck now. It was the silver nose of a civilian airbus. He could see the faintest trace of an exhaust plume behind it.
    Scott blew out another breath. She was there. She was in that airbus, looking out the window at the ground far below. He wondered if she was as nervous as he was. He wondered if that was even possible. All the months. All the phone calls. All the tears. And now she was moments away.
    “ You sure you don’t want Becan here?”
    “ No.”
    “ So you do want Becan here?”
    Scott shook his head in frustration. “I mean yes.”
    “ Yes you do, or yes you don’t?”
    “ Dave!”
    David laughed and slid his hands in his pockets. “Just asking. I can easily call him on the comm for you.”
    The airbus grew larger. Scott could make out the windows now as it neared the airstrip. Thank you, God . Thank you so much, for everything . Thank you! Its primary engines whined down as its maneuvering jets took over. Within seconds, it hovered above the airspace right in front of the hangar. Right in front of