They were a striking couple, and Cipher secretly hoped Hallie would take Brook under her wing. The two women were similar in age and background. If anyone could understand the life Brook had lived before he claimed her, it was Hallie.
“Hello!” Hallie greeted with a warm smile. “How are you, Cipher?”
“I’m well, ma’am. You?”
“Very, very good,” she said, sneaking a quick glance up at her mate. Vicious had his hand on the back of her neck, and his fingers brushed the area just above her stark white collar in a loving gesture. Turning her attention to Brook, she grinned. “I have heard so much about you from Vee!”
Brook anxiously glanced at the general. “Uh-oh.”
Hallie laughed and wound her arm through Brook’s. “All very, very good things. Now—let's get you introduced to everyone.” She looked back at her husband and playfully rolled her eyes. “The boys are going to talk guns and other boring things, but Ella and Naya always have the best gossip from around the ship.”
Left behind with the general, Cipher watched Hallie knock on the door and guide his mate into her first dinner party. Vicious clapped him on the back. “She’s in good hands. Come on. Let’s find Menace. I actually do want to talk to him about a new weapon I think we should acquire.”
Cipher laughed at that and trailed the general into Raze and Ella’s home. After a quick round of greetings, he gravitated toward the men who had taken up seats in the living area. He made sure to pick one that gave him a direct line of sight into the kitchen and dining room where Brook was surrounded. Dizzy and Naya were chatting with her about something that had all three of them smiling and laughing. Ella and Hallie milled around in the background, putting the finishing touches on dinner.
“Any word from Risk on Chance’s condition?” Venom asked.
“Still in his medically induced coma,” Vicious answered. “Risk assures me that he’ll make a full recovery with all his cognitive and physical abilities intact, but keeping him cold and asleep is the key.”
“We need to know his version of the story,” Raze insisted. He glanced back at the kitchen, making sure none of the women were listening, and leaned forward as he spoke in lowered tones. “I don’t believe a word that came out of Reckless’s lying mouth.”
“Nor I,” Vicious agreed. “Orion also thinks he’s the one who attacked the other two, but Reckless maintains that he was defending himself against Talon and Chance.”
“None of that makes sense,” Menace remarked. “Talon and Chance are twenty years younger. They’re stronger, faster.” He paused. “Well, Talon was.”
“I heard that Talon and Chance went to medical training together,” Venom said.
“Not just medical training,” Cipher interjected. “They grew up together. Their dads served together. Chance’s betrothed mate is Talon’s younger sister.”
Venom made a face. “And what does Keen think about that?”
Vicious shrugged. “Whatever he thinks, he isn’t sharing yet.”
“Typical,” Raze grumbled. “What’s the deal there? Is he criminal investigations or is he Shadow Force?”
“I couldn’t say,” Vicious remarked, his gaze briefly moving to their mates.
Understanding that was a question that needed a certain clearance level to answer, they dropped it. Instead, Cipher asked, “How long is Reckless staying in the brig?”
“That’s up to Orion.” The general stretched out his long legs. “There’s no love lost between those two. As soon as he can get this matter cleared up, Orion will likely bounce Reckless back to Prime to face a court martial or be forcibly retired.”
“Good riddance,” Raze muttered. Shaking his head, he asked, “How many other mates do you think he treated like that?” The boss glanced at Brook with sympathy. “He had no hesitation saying that horrible shit to her. He’s definitely done it in the past.”
Menace cleared his throat. He, too, made sure their mates were busy in the kitchen before admitting, “Naya heard some rumors about Reckless and some of the wives down in the enlisted men’s section.”
Vicious sat up at that. “What kind of rumors?”
Menace shot him a look. “What kind do you think?”
The general’s jaw visibly stiffened. “Tomorrow, I would appreciate it if you would ask Naya to talk to Keen. If Reckless has been hurting women on this ship, we need to know.”
“If he’s been taking advantage of other men’s wives, you’re going to have a line of men ready to beat the shit out of him,” Raze warned. “You won’t be able to keep him alive in the cells.”
Vicious shrugged. “Well, that