The Elite: The Complete Series of Boomer and Player (With Bonus) Read Online Free PDF

had passed. Player had been running the business for a while and added his own spin, bringing a new, techno savvy element, with a set of virtual reality rooms where people could go inside, get strapped to a real pilot’s seat, and play out battle scenes on a giant simulation screen. Player had told me all about it over the phone, and taken me on a tour over a video chat. It looked badass and I was eager to experience it for myself in person.
    A few miles off the exit, I saw the familiar driveway and pulled off the highway. Aaron’s house was on the same property as the museum, and I veered left to follow the gravel drive that led to his bungalow style home. I spotted my old friend on the front porch and honked my horn. Princess added a howl and was lunging at the door before I even brought the car to a stop.
    “Crazy pooch,” Aaron said, opening the passenger door when I’d put the car in park. Princess jumped out and started dancing around at his feet. “Hey there, girl. We’re gonna be buddies for a while,” he said, squatting down beside her.
    Aaron straightened and offered me a salute once I rounded the car. “Good to see you, man.”
    I pulled him in for a quick, one armed, embrace, and as I pulled away, realized it looked like he’d lost some weight. We had similar builds, and while I had an inch on him, we’d been evenly matched in the gym. He didn’t look out of shape, but there was a noticeable difference in his physique.
    He smiled. “How was the drive?”
    “Couldn’t ask for better.” I went to the back of the car and popped the trunk with my key, but Aaron swooped in and closed it again.
    “Hey, hey, we’ll do all that later. Come on, let me give you the tour.”
    Princess trotted after him as he set off across the drive, back down the way I’d just driven, towards the massive, warehouse style building that I knew housed all the antique planes. I pocketed my keys and took off after them, jogging a few steps to close the gap.
    “So, catch me up, how’s the squad?” Player asked, when I was once again within earshot.
    I fell into step beside him, our shoes crunching the gravel beneath us as we walked down the drive, back to where the asphalt road met up and led to the warehouse. “You mean besides the part where we’re all pining away for you?”
    Aaron laughed. “Right. That’s just a given.”
    I smiled ruefully at my friend, happy to find that despite the months since we’d last been together, our long standing friendship and easy camaraderie clicked right back into place. “Things are good. Gearing up for deployment, obviously. You know. The new guys are asking a lot of questions, getting nervous, but overall, we’re solid. It should be pretty low key. I’m not worried.”
    “Of course not, Boomer. You’re the rock for everyone else.”
    I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling my sun warmed skin exposed above the collar of my t-shirt. “Well, they might have to figure out a way to survive without me. Right before I left yesterday, Collins pulled me aside and told me about an opportunity overseas. A three-year stint in Germany.”
    Aaron glanced over at me, his eyes wide. “Shit! That’d be sweet! You gonna take it?”
    I shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought about it on the drive down, but not enough to make a decision.”
    “Come on,” Aaron said, elbowing me. “I bet you could score some serious ass over there. A decorated Naval Officer, fresh off a plane from the states.”
    I laughed and shook my head, marveling at his one track mind. “Some things never change, huh, Rosen?”
    He held up his hands innocently, but the daredevil glint in his eye told the true story. Aaron had no problem owning up to his Player reputation, in fact, he relished in it. For whatever reason, knowing he was a womanizer, only seemed to draw more women to him.
    I never quite figured out how his game worked.
    “With my luck, I’d end up head over heels for some woman who just wanted a green card