Dangerous Lies(28)
I was the one shutting down on her now, not being able to discuss my fucked up life. The worst part was, it was my fault for the fallout, and I was so screwed up on how to fix it, or if I’d ever be able to.
With the darkness of the night, my paranoia came to its ugly head, and my routine to secure the house began. I grabbed my glock from my closet where it was neatly placed amongst my collection. They were locked in cabinets, the key tucked in the corner behind a shelf near the door.
Shepley stayed inside while I walked around the house, my glock cocked and ready. Not that I thought Cora’s ex-husband would actually have the balls to come out this way, but I didn’t want to risk the chance. I wasn’t afraid of him, but I didn’t want any surprises either.
The moon was bright tonight, making my stake out easier on my eyes. The light was out in the guestroom, and as badly as I wanted to peek inside, I refrained. Looking at her through the glass would scream creeper.
Besides a raccoon moseying through the woods, the perimeter was cleared, and I headed back inside, making my rounds triple checking the doors and sliders, then plopped on the living room couch. With Cora in the house, I was going to refrain from carrying, but my gun brought me peace, and if she wasn’t going to be in my arms, I would keep it within an arm’s reach underneath the couch.
Shepley jumped onto my stomach once I laid on my back, purring loudly in my ear. He always wanted affection at this time of night when I’d turn the tube on and settle in for the evening.
I scratched his neck, arguing with myself on why I should stay out of Cora’s room. She was most likely exhausted mentally and physically. Mentally from all of the heavy conversations we had, and physically from the draining bike ride. She wasn’t used to the rough terrain of New Zealand, and no doubt she’d be sore tomorrow. I could knock on her door and offer her some cream for her soon to be pained muscles, even offer to rub it on for her, so the strong smell won’t be stuck to her hands.
Shepley let out a low grumble as if he were answering my inner thoughts with a big no. I frowned at the pathetic cat who would fall over and off of the side of the couch if I moved my hand from petting between his ears. “I know, I’ll leave her alone,” I mumbled, reaching for the remote and turning on the tele’.
Chapter Nineteen
“Where’s the drone? We need to take out the target!”
My hands were caked with sand while I fiddled with the control panel as fast as I could, doing my best to block out the loud explosions of rapid fire.
We weren’t prepared for the ambush, and my racing heart was doing its best to not give out. We would have been toast like the rest of camp if the Sargent hadn’t been blessed with intuition and ears like a bat. He had been odd all night around the fire, shaking his head and looking over his shoulder as if the enemy were nearby. He even wanted to head out earlier than we’d planned, but I’d bartered with him, giving him a hard time for not allowing our group enough rest. We left for our mission just early enough to get out before the enemy began to attack our base, leaving us dead between their front men and our fellow service members.
The temperature in the desert had dropped significantly that night, causing the sand to moisten underneath the hard rocks we were hiding behind. The sun was still an hour from rising, the air filled with more than the chill of evil.
“We’ve got to take out their main weapon before they destroy the whole base camp,” Sarg instructed, peeking over top one of the large rocks. I swallowed, trying to contain my shaking hands while I loaded my own gun.
Being a soldier was in my blood, Sarg told me, but I was a chicken shit at this moment, with enemies all around, and the only hope for the rest of the troops would be my aim.
“Their main bundle of troops firing his twenty degrees northwest. You need to send the drone, NOW!” He demanded, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Now!”
Taking a deep breath, I placed the last piece of ammunition on the drone, readying myself to send it, but my fear was overpowering.
“You can do this,” Sarg encouraged. He was always so hard headed and demanding, but his smooth tone gave me the courage I needed. “Martell will cover you, now GO!”
I gave him a nod, then flew to my stomach, crawling along the harsh rocks mixed with the damp sand. Gun fire shrieked in my ears as I crawled, the trigger of Martell’s gun locked and loaded as he followed on my heels. This was my job. My father had raised me for it. I’d get to the correct spot and launch, it was only another ten feet away.
All of the drills and middle of the night pretend raids were supposed to prepare me for this, but it wasn’t enough. I didn’t get the drone there in time, and my entire body jolted from the massive boom that exploded from the direction we had just left.
Right where the rest of my troop was.
Including Sarg.
I sucked in a gulp of air and flew upright from the couch. My chest was tight, air desperate to move in and out of my lungs. My heart was racing, sweat dripping from my temples and down the middle of my back. The dream that had jolted me awake hadn’t haunted me in almost a year.
Once my heart had found its normal pace, I tucked the glock from underneath the couch in the back of my shorts and stood from the couch, running my hands through my hair. The dreams were never easy, and were more intense when I felt vulnerable. Cora was peeling apart my layers, and I was going to have to get a grip on reality if I were going to let her into my life.