Page 47 of Promises in the Dark

But just as that motherfucker’s finger tightened on the trigger, a gunshot rang out, slicing through the air like a thunderous fucking crack. Before I could even process what the fuck happened, the Tali’s head exploded like a watermelon, his brains splattering across the ground.

I blinked in disbelief, my mind struggling to catch up. Someone had just saved our asses. As my heart continued to race from the close call we just had, I turned my head, searching for the source of the shot.

And there he was.

Viper, laughing like he’d just hit the goddamn jackpot, gun still smoking in his hand. His dark brown hair slicked back, chin covered in stubble.

He wasn’t tall, but he made up for his lack of height by packing on muscle. He had a boner for guns, explosives, and anything that made a bloody loud noise like a kid in a candy store when he found a cache of C4 and a few RPGs.

“Well, well, well, look who’s the lucky bastard today,” Viper grinned, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

“Couldn’t resist the chance to be the hero, could you?” I asked with a chuckle.

He smirked, shaking his head and lowering his gun. “It’s not every day I get to blow someone’s brains out and still be the hero.”

“Thank you, whoever you are,” Red said, her tone bursting with genuine appreciation.

Viper winked at her and raised his gun back up to his shoulder, his grin growing wider and for some reason it pissed me off.

“You can call me Viper,” he introduced himself while he shamelessly looked Red up and down like she was a piece of bloody meat. “And don’t worry, love, I’m always up for a bit of heroism and saving pretty ladies like yourself.”

He knew exactly what he was doing and I had to bite my tongue, trying not to swear this bastard out for crossing the line. But I knew better. Show him I gave a fuck, and that’d just give him more ammo to fuck with me.

“By the way, how’d you and bossman get together anyways?” he asked, turning his attention to Red with a smirk. “You two look like you’ve been through hell and back.”

Red stayed quiet, glancing at me, and we shared a brief look, both trying to keep our story straight.

“She’s my doctor,” I said, keeping it vague, hoping he’d drop it.

An annoying smirk spread across his face as he raised an eyebrow at the answer. “You brought your doctor with you to a warzone?”

“Don’t bother digging further, you’ll get nowhere,” I warned him, my fists clenched so tight they could’ve crushed diamonds.

He paused, eyeing me like he was trying to figure out just how much he could push. “Seems a bit fucking excessive, don’t you think?”

“She’s here because she’s damn good at what she does. That’s all you need to know.”

I shot a glance over at Red, and she was looking right back at me with a raised eyebrow, her expression her expression practically screaming‘You’re full of shit’.

Partially true. I might have been talking a bit out of my ass but she was impressive. Despite the fact that I had seen her in action only once, and most of the time I was unconscious, I wasn’t going to downplay her medical expertise.

I wouldn’t be alive if she wasn’t a damn good doctor.

A sly smile crossed Viper’s face, and he gave Red a once over, his eyes roving over her figure. “And what’s your name, little miss?”

“Curiosity killed the cat, you know,” I said dryly.

“But satisfaction brought it back,” he countered, throwing my own phrase back in my face. “And I think I’m satisfied right now,” he said, giving Red a suggestive look.

Red’s cheeks flushed—whether from embarrassment or rage, I couldn’t tell.

Either way, it just egged Viper on, like he saw her reaction as a personal challenge. And I was slowly reaching my breaking point.

“Keep it in your pants,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes at his bullshit.

Viper chuckled, still ogling Red before finally turning to me. “Need me to scratch your back again, Lieutenant?”

Red cut in quickly, stepping in between me and Viper. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said politely, giving Viper a small nod of greeting. “I am Harper.”

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