this girl isn’t a pushover and isn’t going to quit pulling this crap, but I’m fairly confident she’ll stay away from trunks from now on, and hopefully, from scary neighborhoods at midnight,” Smoke said.
Jasmine gave each of the men a warrior’s glance, neither denying nor confirming what Smoke was saying. She then faced Chad, ready to take her verbal beating.
“Jasmine. You screwed up, plain and simple. This is a bad one. These men are seeing what I’ve witnessed for most of your life. You’re stubborn, fearless, intelligent, protective, and a little reckless. You’re also kind, responsible — most of the time — gentle, and willing to find solutions to problems. All of these qualities are shared by these men standing in front of you. The difference is the maturity, training, and their time on earth,” Chad said.
Sleep couldn’t help himself. His mind was always on, and he’d had his hand slapped more than once in his lifetime for saying something he shouldn’t have. All of the men were becoming more and more protective of Jasmine.
“Some of us have had way more time on earth than others,” Sleep said while giving an exaggerated head nod to Chad.
Eyes, Brackish, Smoke, Green, and even Jasmine gave a quick smile. Chad didn’t. He was trying to make a point. He wasn’t even mad any longer, but he couldn’t let Jasmine see that. If she did, she might grow bolder in her attempts at joining their team.
“Here’s my solution to this problem. It’s non-negotiable. You’ll accept it, or I take you home right this second, and we discuss with your parents how you need to be chicken hawked twenty-four/seven.”
The thought of being looked over all of the time made Jasmine squirm. She was an adult, legally at least, had graduated from high school, and was getting ready to go to college. She’d be willing to agree with Chad on anything as long as it meant not getting grounded.
“Okay,” she replied.
“First off, the guys and I are going to enter that building and have a meeting. You’re not invited, don’t even attempt to get inside. If you do, the deal’s off. While we’re in that meeting, you’re going to do the workout they were doing until I come out of that meeting. If you stop, the deal’s off. Next, you’re going to talk with Mallory — Green’s wife — about the inner workings of being in the FBI. There are things you’ll, unfortunately, have to deal with that none of us will ever be able to understand because you’re a woman.”
“Really, you’re going to help me?” Jasmine asked, all defiance evaporating as she smiled at him.
“I’m not finished,” Chad warned. She lifted a hand and acted as if she was zipping her lips shut. “Next, you’re going to write a twenty-page paper for me with at least ten peer-reviewed sources on the mental and physical differences of men and women in close combat roles in the military and protective services. It had better be written well. I want it by the end of next week. Last, at least once a week, you’ll meet with Smoke to receive mentorship on life skills. He’s the only one who acts your age and is essentially a teenage girl himself, so it fits,” Chad finished.
“Really, Chug? I’m like a teenage girl?” Smoke called out as he stepped forward and flexed his massive bicep. Chad was a large man, but Smoke made him look small. Of course, Smoke made most men look small.
“I said what I said,” Chad said, finally breaking a smile.
“Revenge,” Smoke warned with a gleam in his eyes, making several of the guys chuckle.
Chad put his hand in the air to stop the men from getting rowdy. He had to finish what he was saying to Jasmine.
“You’re leaving for college in about two months. During the time between now and then, if you do anything like this again, all of this will stop. You’ll have no more connections to this group in any way, shape, or form,” Chad said with authority. “Do I make myself clear?” The steel in his eyes was a drastic change from the easygoing man he normally was.
“Yes, very clear,” Jasmine said. There was excitement and determination in her expression.
“Now, start those lines. Twenty-five burpees on this line, run to the line I’m going to mark, then do twenty-five crunches. Repeat until I come back. Don’t stop for a breather, don’t take a break. If you have to go to the bathroom, hold it.”
“Okay,”