holster. “This is only for self-defense,” he says, lowering his eyes to my gaze. “That’s my only rule, Cali. You wait for it to be self-defense. Rules of engagement. I’m sure you’re familiar.”
“I thought you couldn’t shoot?” I quip.
He smirks a bit as he pulls a folded piece of paper from his back pocket and tosses it to me. I hold it up to my desk light. It’s his target from the shooting range. The holes put together make up the outline of a smiley face. I should be pissed that he played me like a fool, and I had a moment where I believed he couldn’t shoot, but this is pretty good. I can’t contain the smile that’s overpoweringly creeping across my lips.
“Well I’ll be damned. Is that a smile, Miss Carolina?”
I bite my cheek in an attempt to stop. “You lied,” I say playfully.
“And you have a breathtaking smile.” His lip stretches up, hinting at a smile of his own. “So, I guess we’re even.”
His eyes are studying mine and the moment is making my stomach twist into knots again. I’m not sure he realizes he’s staring. Or maybe he does as he flinches a bit and clears his throat. “Well. Good night. I’ve thoroughly secured the apartment. We’re safe.” He turns and walks out of my room, closing the door behind him.
I’m left here confused and wondering what just happened in the past three minutes. I want to slap my own face. I shouldn’t have to keep reminding myself about Reaper and how much I trusted him, as well. He looked at me the exact same way.
CHAPTER NINE
TANGO
I’VE FELT PAIN. I know the intensity of it and the way it controls your mind and body. But watching Cali in this much pain is almost too much to bear. Everything with her needs to be slow and thought out. I can’t let her stick around and kill this guy. She’ll go to jail. She isn’t thinking clearly. But if I try to drag her out right now, she won’t comply, and I don’t blame her. I know what it feels like to want revenge. The feeling is almost consuming. I can see how she would think she has nothing to lose by killing him. Everything has already been taken from her. But she has the chance to start her life over, and I don’t want her to lose that. It’s my job to protect her. And waiting here for her sister’s murderer to show up, isn’t very logical, but I do have faith that even as a form of self-defense, we can take him down before he has the chance to try anything stupid.
I swear I saw some softness in her icy blue eyes earlier. The look made my heart ache. And my heart doesn’t ache. Not for anyone. I’ve been trained to protect the innocent, and that’s what I’m doing. I haven’t gotten this wrapped up in a mission before, and I’ve never been affected this much. Usually, I complete the job and move onto the next, but I have a feeling it won’t be that easy this time, especially since this is my last job.
I know what I read about her, but there is so much more to know. I know better than anyone, you don’t judge a person by what’s in their file. If that were the case, I’d be considered nothing more than a murderer of the innocent. Explosives will give you that sort of reputation.
I sit down on my bed and pull each boot off, placing them down side by side next to my bed. I fall backwards onto my pillow and fold my arms across my chest and close my eyes.
As the wheeze in my lungs acts as a white noise, the apprehension begins. It’s too empty . . .
***
The streets should be bustling, people moving around, children yelling as their parents rummage through the street market. I’ve been in too many of these situations, immediately realizing that this isn’t going to end well. Looking behind me for my guys, I quickly realize they’re gone. Fuck! I flip my right hand over, twisting my rifle to the side to remove the magazine. No rounds. I reach down to my vest. No mags, just empty pouches. I reach to my thigh. No sidearm.
Wonderful.
My nerves tell me
“I thought you couldn’t shoot?” I quip.
He smirks a bit as he pulls a folded piece of paper from his back pocket and tosses it to me. I hold it up to my desk light. It’s his target from the shooting range. The holes put together make up the outline of a smiley face. I should be pissed that he played me like a fool, and I had a moment where I believed he couldn’t shoot, but this is pretty good. I can’t contain the smile that’s overpoweringly creeping across my lips.
“Well I’ll be damned. Is that a smile, Miss Carolina?”
I bite my cheek in an attempt to stop. “You lied,” I say playfully.
“And you have a breathtaking smile.” His lip stretches up, hinting at a smile of his own. “So, I guess we’re even.”
His eyes are studying mine and the moment is making my stomach twist into knots again. I’m not sure he realizes he’s staring. Or maybe he does as he flinches a bit and clears his throat. “Well. Good night. I’ve thoroughly secured the apartment. We’re safe.” He turns and walks out of my room, closing the door behind him.
I’m left here confused and wondering what just happened in the past three minutes. I want to slap my own face. I shouldn’t have to keep reminding myself about Reaper and how much I trusted him, as well. He looked at me the exact same way.
CHAPTER NINE
TANGO
I’VE FELT PAIN. I know the intensity of it and the way it controls your mind and body. But watching Cali in this much pain is almost too much to bear. Everything with her needs to be slow and thought out. I can’t let her stick around and kill this guy. She’ll go to jail. She isn’t thinking clearly. But if I try to drag her out right now, she won’t comply, and I don’t blame her. I know what it feels like to want revenge. The feeling is almost consuming. I can see how she would think she has nothing to lose by killing him. Everything has already been taken from her. But she has the chance to start her life over, and I don’t want her to lose that. It’s my job to protect her. And waiting here for her sister’s murderer to show up, isn’t very logical, but I do have faith that even as a form of self-defense, we can take him down before he has the chance to try anything stupid.
I swear I saw some softness in her icy blue eyes earlier. The look made my heart ache. And my heart doesn’t ache. Not for anyone. I’ve been trained to protect the innocent, and that’s what I’m doing. I haven’t gotten this wrapped up in a mission before, and I’ve never been affected this much. Usually, I complete the job and move onto the next, but I have a feeling it won’t be that easy this time, especially since this is my last job.
I know what I read about her, but there is so much more to know. I know better than anyone, you don’t judge a person by what’s in their file. If that were the case, I’d be considered nothing more than a murderer of the innocent. Explosives will give you that sort of reputation.
I sit down on my bed and pull each boot off, placing them down side by side next to my bed. I fall backwards onto my pillow and fold my arms across my chest and close my eyes.
As the wheeze in my lungs acts as a white noise, the apprehension begins. It’s too empty . . .
***
The streets should be bustling, people moving around, children yelling as their parents rummage through the street market. I’ve been in too many of these situations, immediately realizing that this isn’t going to end well. Looking behind me for my guys, I quickly realize they’re gone. Fuck! I flip my right hand over, twisting my rifle to the side to remove the magazine. No rounds. I reach down to my vest. No mags, just empty pouches. I reach to my thigh. No sidearm.
Wonderful.
My nerves tell me
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