Page 10 of I Promise You
He executed an attack on one of the US embassies, killing ten contracted workers, chopping their heads off, and hanging them on spikes.
That didn’t sit well with our country, so…they brought another mission to my team and we eagerly accepted it.
“I should’ve thrown you in the water, giving them more to eat.” I smirk, refraining a laugh from escaping my throat as I think of that sunny day in Florida. It was a four-day weekend and the boys and I wreaked havoc in Miami and bar-hopped for three straight nights. It wasn’t El Devine, but it was fun.
“The longest recorded sniper kill was achieved by a new Navy SEAL. Did you hear about it? Nobody even thought it was possible, but this guy made a fucking headshot from football fields away. Fucking insane. Admiral Ravenmore was impressed enough, and they’re in talks to add him to our team,” Kane shares with us, getting between Paul and me, huffing through his difficulty to even out his breathing.
He’s captured my full attention and piqued my interest.
I glance over at him, raising a brow, and I see drops of sweat fall off his eyelash. My Reaper mask doesn’t stop me from showing my emotion. My eyes say it all.
“No fucking way. What’s his name?” Rooker asks, re-adjusting his rifle over his shoulder on my right.
“His name is Hannibal. His Operator name is—” Something tweaks in the distance, interrupting Kane from talking further. It sounds like a branch breaking…a branch breaking under someone’s foot. It sounds like a threat.
We all grow quiet in less than a second. We all lock our lips tight, and we stop moving. Our teams go rigid, holding our rifles up to our eyes, ready to engage.
We crouch, and I search for any life that may threaten ours.
I wave my hand over my side, motioning them to follow me, but I’m the first to do a quick scan of evaluation.
I sharpen my gaze, looking at everything in my sight, and that’s when I see the culprit.
I see an eight-point buck, thick rugged antlers, and bright green eyes glow, glistening right back into my vision as I shine my light on him.
I scoff, lifting my lips into a curve on one side, and my sharp canines brush over my bottom lip as I squint.
A fucking deer.
I drop my rifle and relax my shoulders.
I let out a sigh of relief as it gallops away, disappearing into thick trees. I stand tall, re-adjusting my posture and running my hand through my beard, over my mask. It’s a fucking habit.
We don’t have to engage in a fight just yet. One of the worst things that could happen is getting caught off guard and ambushed.
“All clear,” I whisper into the mics.
I move forward a few steps in front of the teams and instruct them not to follow me.
“I’m going to do some recon.”
“Roger that,” my team whispers, synchronized, acknowledging me.
I walk for about a minute, pushing through thorny bushes and broken branches.
My shoulders bear the weight of my wandering mind. Everyone depends on me to get us through this.
I felt a strange sensation prickle on my neck, like freezing air blowing on me, which I have never experienced before. It sends goosebumps all over my skin, and I turn my head, expecting to see Paul messing with me. I’m already preparing myself to condemn him because he’s going against my orders. I told him to stay put with the rest of the team. He knows when to separate foolishness from work.
I turn my head around to be met with no one. I narrow my brows, confused, when I see that I’m alone and Paul is far away from me, talking to Kane and Lopez.
I shake my head, shrugging my shoulders.
Am I going fucking crazy? It felt like someone was breathing on my damn neck.
I need a cigarette.
I continue to move forward, stepping on small rocks underneath my boots, and that’s when I notice we’ve reached our destination.
