Page 51 of Kai
“So, you’d blow up the cove just to protect me?” she asked.
“That’s an affirm,” I said. “The mere thought of destroying nature kills me, but I’ve taken every measure necessary to protect your life.”
“My life is not worth such destruction.”
“Let’s agree to disagree.” I tracked the boat. “My point is, we’re ready.”
“You remind me of Nix,” she offered quietly. “He was always thinking ahead.”
“He was.” I tracked the boat’s progress. “It pays to be ready.”
She sighed. “And still, he died.”
“Sorry for your loss.” I reached over and gave her hand a brief squeeze. “Perhaps it was his time to go, but it’snotyours.”
Sadness gleamed in the depths of her pale eyes. “Why do I always want to believe everything you say?”
“Because deep down, you know I’m telling the truth.”
“You’re not wrong about that.”
Her certainty made something ping at the back of my thoughts, but I had to focus on the present. The watercraft slowed down as it approached the reef. I reached beneath the pile of rocks, pulled out the case I’d cached there, and clicked it open. The RPG launcher’s parts nested in their protective foam.
Cece gaped at the weapon. “Is that a…?”
“A precaution.” With practiced movements, I assembled the launcher and armed the warhead.
“You climbed all the way up here and stowed your gear, also while I slept?”
“Yes.” I set the RPG down, peered out from behind the rocks, and aimed the binoculars at the boat.
“But you said you wired the cove—”
“I did, but tactical defenses are about layers. We might need the explosives in the cove for a second wave, especially if there are more tangos close by. If these fuckers try to reachSerenity, they’re goners.”
“You’re weird,” Cece murmured.
“How so?” I asked.
“You are the embodiment of peace one second and war itself the next.”
She wasn’t wrong. In more ways than one, I was a walking, talking contradiction.
“What are they doing now?” Cece squinted again. “What’s that thing?”
“A drone.” These assholes were a motivated bunch. “They’re about to launch it from the boat. It’s a small observation unit with a camera on it.”
She winced. “Can you shoot it down?”
“I could, and from this spot, it would be easy.” I fingered my trusty carbine. “But we don’t wanna do that.”
“Why not?”
“If they lost the drone, they would suspect something was wrong. They’d bring more personnel and intensify their search. Shooting down the drone would be a declaration of war.”
She furrowed her forehead. “I should’ve thought of that.”
“You’re a scientist, Cece, not a Marine. It’s a shame you’re here at all.”
