Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Fuck, it would be so easy to just hit him with the butt of my rifle and make it look like an accident.
A very messy, very no need to investigate what really happened here, accident.
“Dead men don’t talk.” Horror doesn’t hesitate to hop into his expression momentarily pacifying my rattled nerves. “Therefore, there’s no one to interrogate. No direct leads to follow, leaving us at a disadvantage. Our usual contacts and connections and resources we would use directly through the company are compromised since at this time we’re still unaware of exactly who we can and cannot trust, which means using outside sources. And those outside sources have their own schedules and their own timetables, to which they do shit that we have no choice but to abide by – again – leaving us at a disadvantage. However, given the organized orchestration of the most recent attack, a few educated deductions have been made.” I pick up the magazine and demonstrate the proper way to load it. “Whoever wants Arley dead – and that is now the case after the amount of gunfire they unloaded into my truck – is directly connected to the poachin’ discovery she presented to you last week.”
“That’s what the other numbers have been wondering.”
“And considerin’ that there were very few people who knew we were leavin’ the penthouse that day – let alone that time – it means whoever wants Arley dead is either inside the company with direct ties to her or has an inside person with direct ties to her. Tryin’ to get this information without settin’ off alarms or alertin’ the enemy to our discoveries also requires time and discretion. It’s why Yi is workin’ that angle rather than myself or Blu. His buildin’ wide monitorin’ actions indicate we are doin’ somethin’ yet don’t inform our threat to exactly what.”
“And you know for a fact that Yi can be trusted?”
“He’s not interested in makin’ his wife a widow.” The click of the magazine being placed emphasizes my firmness. “Sir.”
Seventeen picks up his weapon and the ammunition to complete the actions I just did.
“This…assignment is not your average assignment. We’re in a game of chess. And our opponent? Seems to always be two steps ahead of us. Those are steps you cannot take if you don’t have some sort of clue as to the strategy we’re workin’ with. It’s another reason why I’m not makin’ the moves that you or the other higher ups think I should be makin’. Those are probably the moves that they’re expectin’ me to make and the moves they’ve already got maneuvers for.”
Once he finishes loading the weapon, he mumbles, “Which is why you’re keeping Arley at your place versus a traditional safehouse, correct?”
My finger rolls around to indicate for him to unload the firearm next. “It’s one reason.”
Knowing the ins and out of the building including entries and choke points, knowing the security staff by name and background, being able to access the footage of the entire area with a couple clicks as well as having three mapped exit strategies lined up are also reasons.
Of course, the most important one is that it’s where Angel Cake feels most comfortable.
And much like a calm kid is a compliant one, a comfortable adult is a cooperative one.
And when handling something like this that’s exactly what you need.
You don’t need the person you’re protecting to do everything they can to make doing that harder.
After he successfully unloads the rounds, I point to his set of headphones. “I’m actually gonna fire my weapon, so you need to put those on.”
He reaches for the ear coverage at the same time he states, “I know I can’t visit Arley, but I do look forward to seeing her again hopefully soon.” Seventeen begins to put them on. “Perhaps next time I’ll order us to-go lunch from Just Poké or rent the entire backroom for us to share – after all Chef Oka owes me a favor or two. Hm. I wonder if she’s still a fan of their ahi tuna bowl.”
The fact I didn’t even know she liked ahi tuna at all causes me to scowl.
How is it he knows that shit but didn’t know she prefers to be called Arley?
Or was that…something special she let me start calling her?
What else does he know that I don’t?
Shoving on my ear gear is followed by the reloading, checking the chamber, and positioning of my firearm. While there are an array of green and white targets to hit both close and in the distance, I choose to keep our cover intact by picking the ones that’ll be easier for him to hit.
Lining up the shot itself is effortless.
Not delivering overkill due to the frustrations I would like to unload is a bit more difficult.
Working from left to right and then right to left, I steadily deliver two rounds into the dead center of each target, executing pristine trigger discipline and timing. The ability to hit center mass each time with minimal effort is far less impressive to me than the amount of recoil I’m enduring with my most recently modified firearm.