Chapter 172: Brenden

Thursday. Emiliano Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BRENDEN FELT ONLY MARGINALLY better after a thirty second shower and a change of clothes. He was grateful the others had opted to give him a room to himself just off the suite where they'd be set up with Priscilla for the night. Sometimes he had nightmares, nasty things that left him out of sorts for days. They were worse when he didn't at least try to keep normal hours.

Technically speaking, he did not have PTSD or any other neat explanation for what kept him up at night. No head doc he'd seen had come to that conclusion. Whatever kind of fucked up he was didn't fit their neat diagnosis. He was really lucky to have this team. They didn't need long explanations for things.

He dragged the washrag over his face as someone pounded on the wall.

A muted voice that sounded like Vaughn called out, "Briefing."

"Can't use a fucking cell phone?" Brenden muttered.

He tossed the rag down and rolled his shoulders.

It wasn't the briefi