“Yeah,” Jed said. “I think we need to talk about the dynamic here—about the friction we’re having, you and me—before it degrades the team.”

Johnny looked at him with bemused defiance, arms crossed, as he took a seat in the makeshift ready area they had created in the hangar. “So you’re gonna give me some sort of reprimand, I suppose?”

Jed sighed and took a seat opposite him. “Nope. I want to talk to you as a teammate—brother to brother.”

“Not as team leader?” Johnny asked, cocking his head to the side.

“As teammates,” he said, leaning in. “Look, man, it’s pretty clear you have a problem with my leadership of Joshua Bravo, but we need to sort it out or it’s going to affect our readiness—affect the entire team. No holds barred, brother. What is it?”

Johnny looked surprised, disarmed even.

“It’s not you personally,” Johnny said, clearly softening. “It’s just, I came up the hard way in this organization. After my time in SOF, I felt the calling—you know what I mean? It’s like, you don’t exactly choose the Shepherds, right? It calls to you. It’s a God thing . . .”

Jed nodded and smiled. That he definitely got.

“When I came here, I was put on the security detail with Sanderson and the other guys. I don’t know why. Morvant said he felt that was God’s plan in the short term. That short term turned into two years—two years before I got called up to a team. I’ve been with Joshua Bravo since, serving and doing everything asked of me without complaint. Then you come along . . .”

“And I cut to the front of the line and take the leadership job?” Jed said. “A job you hoped to grow into?”

Johnny laughed. He seemed to be as genuine right now as Jed could remember ever seeing him. All the bravado and snark were gone.

“You know, the thing is, I don’t even want to lead a team. At least I don’t think I do. But Eli—he was being groomed and next in line. CAG operator, born leader, amazing fighter, humble. Then you roll in and now he’s serving under you. Since when does that make sense?”