Page 57 of Coming In Hot
I close the door quietly and take a step forward, trying not to let unease make my movements too stiff. Jace doesn’t look up right away, his attention fixed on the mess in front of him as though willing it to organize itself.
“Sir,” I start, my voice steady but my mind racing, “it wasn’t?—”
He cuts me off with a sharp gesture, his fingers drumming against the desk. “I don’t care about your excuses. I care about results. Do you understand the magnitude of this? The fallout from this… It’s not just financial. It’s going to cost us far more than just money.” He leans back with a sigh. “The government’s breathing down my neck. My superior has my nuts in a vice. And I have to call my wife and tell her our vacation is on hold—indefinitely. That might be the thing that scares me the most,” he jokes, though it’s clear his humor is strained.
I continue to stand at attention, holding my tongue.
“I’ll tell you one thing, Havoc. That was some fancy flying. You got the entire team and every single volunteer back safely, and that’s what matters most.”
A compliment was the last thing I was expecting from him. I blink, unsure if I heard him correctly, but his eyes are steady on mine, a rare flicker of something almost like respect in his gaze. It doesn’t soften the situation, but it’s enough to make me wonder what he’s really thinking.
“Thank you, Sir?” I say, unsure if I’m supposed to acknowledge it or just keep my head down.
Jace gives a slight nod, his expression hardening again. “Don’t get comfortable. You’re still on thin ice. But for today, you did your job. Now let’s make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
It's clear the leash is tight, but for now, at least, I'm not in the fire.
“This conflict is going to make an old man out of me way before my time. The Brotherhood will stop at nothing to keep our ‘western liberal evil’ from infecting their agenda. If the democratic elections succeed, their power is greatly diminished. As you can see, their attempt to maintain control is becoming desperate and destructive, for the people of Egypt, and us.”
Jace tosses his glasses onto the desk and sits forward, bracing his elbows. “What will it take to get you to agree to come on board full time?”
His question hangs in the air, unexpected, making me pause. I wasn’t prepared for this. He’s offering me more than just a job now—it feels like a line in the sand. The stakes just got a whole lot higher.
“Excuse me, Sir? I thought we were discussing how I cost you eight million.”
Jace chuckles. “We’ll circle back to that,” he promises, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. “It wasn’t your fault, technically. I want you here full time. Not just piloting, but training the next generation of pilots, and overseeing the ground transportation as well. It would mean less time in the air and more desk action. Go ahead,” he urges, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “ask me how exciting the desk is.”
I hesitate, eyeing him carefully. “So, you want me to trade flying for paperwork?” I ask, half-joking, half-serious.
Jace smirks, but there's a hint of something genuine behind the sarcasm. “Pretty much. But think of it this way: you'll still be the one running the show. You'll be shaping the team, making the decisions, and having more control than you ever could in the cockpit.”
My chin dips, weighing the offer. It's tempting, but I can already feel the pressure of the desk job choking me. “And if I say no?”
He shrugs, but his gaze is intense. “Then you walk. But, honestly, Havoc, I’m not sure you want to. The work’s tough, but it’s important. You could make a real difference here.”
The room falls silent for a moment, his offer settling heavily on my shoulders.
Dozens of thoughts dance through my mind, trying to fit into the picture Jace is painting. The dream of opening my shop. Starting something with Jax that may or may not have a future. My promise to stop running and start living. None of these fit the picture.
Each option feels heavy, and none aligns with Jace's offer. It’s the kind of opportunity that comes with an unspoken cost, one I can’t quite put my finger on yet, but I can feel it gnawing at the edges of my decision. The dream of a quieter life feels miles away from the chaos of this job. But can I walk away from it all? From the chance to build something that might matter?
“I’ll think about it, Sir. As soon as I have an answer, you’ll be the first to know.”
CHAPTER20
PHARO
I don’t wantto seem too eager—though I definitely am—so I’m not going to rush right over there with my cock in hand. Seeing Jax again has been all I could think about on the long flight home. Dinner, maybe another kiss? Maybe more?
Anticipation coils in my chest, making it harder to breathe as I make my way to the door. I tell myself to play it cool, but my heart is thumping harder than my knuckles on his door. Jax answers the door, looking less than thrilled to see me. Definitely not the warm welcome I was hoping for.
“Hey,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “I didn’t catch you at a bad time, did I?”
He doesn’t say anything at first, just leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes flicker over my face, studying me like he’s trying to decide something. I swallow, feeling that awkwardness creep in. Maybe I’ve misread things. Maybe I shouldn’t have come over.
“Jax?” I ask softly, taking a small step forward, unsure of what to do next.
He takes a breath and finally steps aside, gesturing for me to come in. “Come on in,” he says, though there’s no enthusiasm in his voice.
