Shadow hugs me hard and long. We've never been affectionate with each other outside of back slaps, handshakes, and one-arm hugs, but this doesn't feel awkward or uncalled for.
"Mother fuck, Van. Boy, I'm sure fucking glad to see your sorry ass," he says with relief and a big smile.
"Me too, Shad, me too. How you been?"
"Good, man. Real good. Got two boys now, and Cindy's expecting again." He beams.
Laughing due to his contagious happiness, I shake his hand. "Well, congratulations, big daddy. Poor fucking Cindy, having to not only deal with you but two little tykes that probably take after you, you ornery ass."
A few more chuckles break out around the room. Tripp clears his throat; he's not laughing.
"So, Van, what does your return mean? Are you here to stay or are you gonna up and leave in the middle of the night again, leaving everyone else to pick up the pieces of the lives you blow up?" Tripp's question stabs me.
The muscles in my jaw tighten. I suppose I deserve that; I just wish we could have eased into the ‘let's give Evan shit' portion of this visit. It doesn't help that Tripp's no longer the easygoing, fun-loving guy I knew growing up.
Ever since his younger brother's murder, he hardly ever smiles or laughs. He's intense, broody. He takes life way too seriously, and while he certainly has cause to, it'd eat Griff up to know how much his brother has changed.
"No, Tripp, I'm here to stay. In fact, that's why I'm here today. Ry and I have talked, and I'm coming back to work as of Monday."
At my news, Dex and Shadow express their approval of my return. I don't need anyone's blessing-it's my company-but having them on board will sure make things go smoother. Their support will also help with any bumps I may encounter with the other guys on my team, all of whom are currently on jobs. My only other employee isn't a concern. Tommie knew where I was all along, and she's thrilled to have me back.
Tripp's expression is blank, although his mouth is in a tight line and his fists are clenched. He sure is angry with me, and it seems like he wants to go a few rounds. Ry stands and comes around the desk, nodding to Davis as they both near me.
"Van, I want you to meet a good friend of mine, Coop."
"Coop?" I ask, already knowing that's the name he prefers to go by.
"Hey, Van, great to meet you." He extends his hand. He's got a firm, strong handshake, much like his demeanor, although his eyes are full of mirth and he has a beaming smile. "Yeah, I'm Davis Cooper, but everyone calls me Coop."
"Nice to meet you," I say, folding my arms and examining him top to bottom.
Ry mentioned Coop would be here. He recently left the FBI, and Ry wants him to join HC. While I trust Ry with my life and should probably just say yes, I want to test him out.
He's a nice enough guy, but in my line of business, nice isn't good enough. I always check things out for myself. You never can be too careful, and working for the FBI means shit. There are some dirty motherfuckers among them.
The five of us talk for a little longer, and they tell me a lot of what I already know. Shadow explains how coming back without me over two and a half years ago was hard. He and I had talked before I sent him packing. I stressed that no matter the circumstance, he was not to tell anyone where I was, and that meant Ry and Carys, too. I made it very clear that people's lives, including my own, were at stake.
Needless to say, he paid for his silence with a lot of rough months, thanks to the rest of the HC crew. They all knew he was withholding information, and while they wanted to understand, they didn't let him off the hook that easily. He said the hardest were Ry and Tripp.
At this point, Tripp leaves. I want to talk to him and I will, but I sense he needs time. Dex and Shadow follow not too soon afterward, leaving Ry, Coop, and me. Of course, Ry jumps right into what's been on his mind since my brief introduction to Coop.
"So, Coop can start Monday, too."
"Yeah, or if you need me this week, I can move things around," Coop says.
"Hang on a sec," I say. "I want Coop to do a few jobs for HC, then we'll talk contract."
"What the fuck, Van? Are you serious?" Ry's irritated and surprised. We hadn't talked about this because I knew he would never agree to it. I don't need him to agree, and this is my way of letting him know that.
"Ry, I do this with all my recruits."
"You're talking fucking probation. He doesn't need probation," Ry grinds out. "He's worked with me at the FBI for over ten fucking years. If you need someone to vouch for him, that's what I'm doing."
"Listen, Ry, it's cool," Coop interjects, although he is tense, too, and his friendly smile is nowhere in sight.