Griffin gave him a stiff nod. “Good. Spent the day running drills in the shooting house. Any news on the injury?”

Shane raised his arm and glanced down at the sling that hung uselessly around his neck. “It’s fine. I’d be back to work tomorrow if it were up to me.” Except, he realized, that was a lie. He wanted to catch this motherfucker first.

Griffin scrubbed a hand through his short black hair. “Shane, I wanted to say something. I know how difficult it is to lose someone you’re close to in an unexpected and violent manner.” He swallowed loudly. “And then to pretend everything is okay.”

They both drew in long breaths.

“And I get you don’t want me here, trying to replace your buddy—”

“Hey.” Shane grabbed Griffin by both arms and gave him a little shake. “Don’t ever say that.”

Griffin looked startled.

“Don’t ever say that,” Shane gritted the words out between clenched teeth. “I want you here. Scotty wanted you here. We both voted for you to be offered a place on Echo team.” Emotion clogged Shane’s throat. He should have made more time for the guy but this case was consuming him. “You joined us at a bad time but I don’t want you to ever think that you aren’t one of us or that I don’t want you here. I do.” Shane sniffed and pretended he wasn’t being slammed by emotions he’d been busy trying to avoid. “I also wish things were different and that me and Scotty were giving you and Kincaid hell, you know?” He squeezed Will Griffin’s shoulders one last time and let him go.

Griffin was visibly moved by Shane’s words—which he should have spoken as soon as Griffin arrived. He’d been busy wallowing in grief. Scotty would have kicked his ass if he’d been here.

“I know you lost your fiancée. I know you and Hunt Kincaid both almost died trying to save her and his girlfriend”—not to mention hundreds of thousands of innocent lives from a weaponized anthrax threat—“that’s why we chose you. Not because of how many pull-ups you can do or how many miles you can run.” Body strength mattered but not as much as heart. “We wanted you because you’re an asset to this team. Because you’re a fucking good agent. And because you care about your teammates. We chose you for your grit and integrity and Scotty would have been damn proud to call you partner.”

Griffin looked down at the floor, clearly at a loss for words.

“Right now, it’s rough, and to be honest I am so fucking desperate to get this motherfucker I can almost taste it.” Shane rubbed his good hand over his face.