Page 51 of Promises in the Dark

Red took an eternity to answer, her eyes darting around like a caged animal. I was aware that she was running from something, but I didn’t have a clue what it was. All I knew was that she needed to get the hell out of that camp she had come from.

“The pay,” she answered with complete indifference.

If the captain was pissed off before, this certainly wasn’t helping. “You chose to be here because it pays better than the HCA[1]?” he asked, as if not quite believing her.

Red shrugged, her physiognomy still neutral. “It’s a tough economy, sir,” she replied, her answer as straightforward as her attitude.

Captain Dickhead looked like he was trying to decide whether or not to believe her story. His gaze shifted towards me, his eyebrows furrowing as he directed his question towards me.

“I still do not understand why you think we need an extra doctor here, Lieutenant,” he sounded like he was questioning my sanity. “Especially since there are plenty of qualified doctors back at main camp.”

Red looked like she was on the verge of puking her fucking guts out and I cursed silently, having to come up with an excuse on the fly.

I was caught between a rock and a hard place.

“I think it’s best if we have an extra set of hands, especially considering how small my task force is,” I said in a way that wasn’t exactly rude, but neither polite.

The captain’s eyebrow shot up, but it was too late. I’d said it, and now I had to run with it.

“Having an extra doctor will not only ease the burden on our current medical staff, but it will also ensure that we have the expertise we need to keep our team in fighting shape.”

I knew it was a stretch, but I had to sell it. Red’s expertise in the field wasn’t exactly well-documented, but I had seen her in action, and I knew she had what it took to save lives under the most fucked-up circumstances.

“Usually, this kind of transfer takes weeks, if not months, Lieutenant,” he affirmed, rubbing his chin. “Speeding it up would require my personal involvement.”

I could see it in his gaze, the recognition that what I had just asked him was a personal favor, a debt that he wouldn’t let me forget, one that would undoubtedly come back to bite my ass in the future.

I had made a promise to Red, and I intended to keep it, even if it meant owing the captain a favor that would hang over me like a goddamn sword of Damocles. He was no fool, and he knew damn well the weight of the request I had just made.

“Are you sure she’s worth the trouble?” he asked, turning to face me once again.

The captain was a grizzled old bastard with a long history of sending men to their graves, that wouldn’t hesitate to cash in on that favor when the time was right.

I’d just signed up for a future of twisted obligations, and when he came knocking, I’d have no choice but to comply.

“Sir,” I replied, in the most professional demeanour I could muster, “with all due respect, there isn’t a soldier alive worth more than a good doctor.”

A low chuckle rumbled in captain’s chest, a sound that was equal parts sinister and satisfied. He smiled knowingly, as if realizing that he now had me right where he wanted to.

“If you vouch for her abilities, I’ll give it a shot. But remember, if this backfires, it’s on you.”

Oh, how the tables have turned.

“Of course, sir.”

Captain Wannabe just stared at me for a moment, his expression almost seeming to tell me ‘you are going to regret this’.

“Alright, Lieutenant. We’ll see how this plays out. But for now, she can sleep in your quarters. We don’t have time to make arrangements for her tonight.”

Red shot me a look that could’ve killed. Her lips curled into a tight grimace, and she took a hesitant step back, as if trying to put some distance between us.

The feeling was mutual.

“Is that really necessary?” she asked, not bothering to hide her irritation.

I sure as hell didn’t want to babysit Red, and her smart-ass mouth didn’t help her case either. I had my own demons to wrestle with, and I didn’t need the added burden of someone else’s shit weighing me down.

Shit, I could really use a drink.

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