CHAPTER 21
Finn managed to secure the leave by leveraging Lauren’s knockout victory against Taron—a performance he argued deserved immediate reward and recovery time.
By mid-morning, they were officially cleared with Kaelen’s approval, exchanging the sterile gray uniforms for civilian clothes they hadn’t worn since they arrived.
While waiting for Lauren in the lobby, as Finn fixed the collar of his white poloshirt, he caught sight of Ryle outside. Ryle was violently assaulting an outdoor punching bag, sweat pouring off his bare, glistening chest as he worked off his morning meal with brutal intensity.
Finn had just finished his observation of Ryle’s relentless morning training when a soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. “Ready to go?”
He turned, and his jaw nearly dropped.
Laure
