Few Words (A Bookworms & Booya Book) Read online

  Chapter One

  A Word

  "Fujin."

  I looked up from the computer terminal located in the remodeled basement of Balamb Garden and straightened. Seifer stood at the entrance to his office of the Garden Network Security Division dressed in his new usual black slacks, black silk shirt, and black dress‑shoes. He held his favorite coffee mug, which gave me a jolt of satisfaction. I had given him the dark blue mug upon his reinstatement to Garden as Head of Security.

  "SIR?"

  Seifer stepped back and motioned into his office. "A word."

  I curtly nodded and strode forward, stepping past him to stand at attention across from his desk. Previously, I wouldn't have. Standing at attention and saluting had been traditions with no basis in respect or deserving. My entire career on the Disciplinary Committee I hadn't saluted but maybe once. Now, with Seifer as Head of Security for the entire Garden Network, and myself reinstated as his second in command, the tradition felt right. It felt deserved.

  Seifer closed the door and made his way to the other side of his desk. He set his mug down before meeting my gaze.

  "Report."

  I pulled a sheaf of papers from the inside pocket of my SeeD uniform jacket and presented it to him.

  "Trabia?" he asked.

  "YES."

  "Are they with us?"

  "YES."

  Seifer responded with a curt nod and set the papers on his desk. "Good. Trepe and Regal have agreed. They've set the plans in motion."

  I motioned to the basement Security office's main floor seen through the window behind me. "SISTER."

  Seifer lowered himself into his black leather chair. "The younger Regal believes her brother is actually wanting to date Trepe." He smirked. "She has no idea of the mission or the conspiracy. I want to keep it that way."

  I briskly nodded. "ORDERS?"

  Seifer kicked his feet up onto the desk after taking up his coffee mug. "Go to Galbadia Garden and touch base with Marshal. He'll need a secure line in order to contact me."

  I saluted and turned.

  "Fujin."

  I turned back to Seifer and silently waited.

  Seifer regarded me with that same intense look I'd come to trust. The expression I knew could see through any weakness or falsity. To my surprise, the intensity changed as he stared at me. "Ahndra, it's been five years."

  I blinked at the use of my real name. "SIR?"

  "Five years," he repeated meaningfully. "Time to let it go. Move on, damn it."

  I briefly clenched my jaw, my hands clasped behind my back as memories began to push at me. "EXPLAIN."

  Seifer pulled his legs from his desk and stood to move across from me. His gaze held mine. "Ahndra, it's been five damn years. When are you going to quit being his toy soldier?"

  I went rigid, arms at my sides as my good eye sparked. "BEWARE."

  Seifer leaned against his desk and scoffed. "Bullshit, Ahndra. I'm not the asshole here. He was. He's gone. Five years gone." He focused on his coffee mug as he purposefully set it beside him. "We used to really talk about shit, Ahndra." He looked up and met my gaze. "It's been five damn years."

  I held his gaze, knowing he wouldn't look away. I clenched my jaw.

  Seifer crossed his arms, and the intensity returned as bright as ever. "Dismissed."

  I saluted and strode from the office, fists clenched as I left the Security Division and boarded the elevator to the main floor. I frowned and tightly crossed my arms, my head lowering a fraction as my hard glare focused on the seam of the elevator door.

  Whispers.

  Shouts.

  Pain--

  I sharply lifted my head, my arms going to my sides as the lift doors opened. I strode out and down the stairs, turning left and heading for the dorms to gather my gear.