Page 12 of Trapped
It was a short, ugly fight—nothing like the long scenes you see in the movies—that ended with my face and his throat being slashed.
Tommy didn’t stand up a second time. I stole a random pair of dirty overalls, Tommy’s shoes and gun, and a leather jacket I’d found on the back of a chair.
Killing his brother, Al, was easier. I put a nine mil bullet in his chest. With limited ammunition, and even less strength, I wanted to avoid confrontation with the Perpura Brothers’ henchmen. I only fired the one shot, killing Al, before sneaking out of the warehouse.
Focusing on the soft chair under me, the carpet under my feet, and the wood under my fingers, I worked my way back to the present.
“You okay?” John asked.
I relaxed my death grip on the arm of the chair. “Fine, thanks.” I didn’t expect them to believe me; my body was vibrating with tension.
“You don’t know us, so I don’t expect you to trust us yet,” Jamie said. “But if you ever want to talk about it, we’re here.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“It’s Jamie.”
“Thanks, Jamie. I’m sure you understand there are things I can’t talk about.” It was the same thing I’d said during my interview. The truth of the statement served my need to avoid talking about it. I could give broad-stroke information, but not the details.
Like why I left Hawken’s Security after having my cover blown. Like knowing I could no longer operate at the same level. Like seeing my life flash before my eyes and realizing I wanted more than just thrills and adventure.
I wanted a wife, kids, a dog, and a white picket fence.
Changing the subject, John said, “We have your first assignment. It’s a two-day personal protection detail. You’ll work it with Jay.”
I stood and reached for the file. “Anything specific I need to know?” I asked, already scanning the file.
“It’s routine, but we’re assigning two for twenty-four-seven coverage,” John said.
“When do we leave?”
“In an hour, coordinate with Jay. You have a suit with you?”
“Yes, sir.” I corrected myself. “Sorry, it’s a habit.”
Jack laughed. “We get it.” Everyone at SSI had served in the military or in law enforcement.
Jay waved me in before I could knock on the doorframe of the office he shared with his fiancée, Cate. A Marine and former FBI profiler, Cate was an all-around badass.
And someone I’d have to work hard to keep from shrinking my head. I’d already noticed her watching me, trying to figure me out, more than once.
“Morning, Cate, Jay.”
“Morning, thanks for the coffee, bro,” Jay said. “Best I’ve ever tasted.”
“You’ve been drinking that coffee your whole life,” Cate said.
“No, I haven’t. I drank it for a few years before joining the Marines, but I’ve only been home seven months, Sweetie Pie,” Jay corrected her.
“Jaden.” There was a warning in her voice.
“Yes, Snookems?”
“How many times—”
“Have you told me not to call you that?”
“Obviously not enough,” Cate answered.
