Page 53 of Promises in the Dark

Oddly convenient.

“Understood, sir,” I nodded, knowing damn well that there was nothing to be said other than, ‘We fucked it up.’ “I’ll have the report ready by tomorrow.”

“You better,” he added, lighting a cigarette and sending a cloud of foul smoke wafting toward the poorly placed air vent. “And for the love of God, don’t make it sound like a scene from ‘Kill Bill’. Keep it PG-13, got it? I’ve got a sensitive stomach.”

With that, he leaned back in his chair and blew a cloud of smoke in my direction, flipping me off with one finger.

“Dismissed, soldier. Go until further notice, or until I change my mind and decide you’re expendable like the rest of your team.”

I felt like a fucking dog being told to go fetch.

I turned around and gestured for Red to follow me, skirting around groups of soldiers.

“Is your captain always this much of an asshole?” she asked, batting those pretty lashes at me.

I snorted, the sound coming out more like a bark than a proper laugh. “That was him in agoodmood,” I responded, my voice softening as it wrapped around the words.

Her eyes widened, and she gripped my arm, her fingers biting into the skin. “You’re fucking with me, right?” she questioned, her voice rising an octave.

I leaned in close, my lips brushing against her ear. “Just wait until you see him when someone spills coffee on his favorite shirt.”

She looked at me for a moment, her gaze probing deeper than I was comfortable with. But then, she shook her head and let out a hollow sigh.

“Men in the army...” she mumbled, her voice trailing off as she shook her head.

“Welcome to the crew, love,” I drawled, giving her a sidelong glance as I led her down the corridor. “You know, I heard that in the army, they teach you to salute with your dick.”

Her face turned beet red, as she tried to hold back her laughter. “That’s disgusting.”

I grinned, full of shit and loving it. “Well, that’s just the kind of humor you can expect around here, sweetheart.”

The base was a typical military compound, with rows of brick buildings on either side of the narrow lane, all connected by endless rows of doors and small stairways.

As we walked, we bumped into one of the soldiers, Pyro, who flashed me a cocky smirk.

“Hey, Pyro, still got that sorry excuse for a mustache?” I jeered, earning a middle finger in response.

“It’s more than what your mom has to hold onto for night,” he shot back, brushing his thumb against his upper lip.

“At least she’d know what to grab on to unlike yours,” I remarked, my grin spreading wide.

Red cleared her throat, that polite way of telling me to quit my shit. I rolled my eyes, too tired and my ribs were hurting me too fucking much to argue with her about ordering me around.

With a salute, Pyro continued on his way, leaving us to navigate the final stretch to our destination. We approached a door labeled ‘Quarters’ and I pushed it open, gesturing grandly for Red to pass through.

“Ta-da! Your new home away from home,” I announced, flinging my arm out in a dramatic arc.

Finally, we arrived at my door, and I turned the handle, stepping inside. Being the fucking lieutenant had its perks, and that included having enough space for a small living area, a comfortable bed, and even a bathroom tucked away in a corner.

The place was bare, like a nun’s underwear—just a bed, desk, and the essentials. No decorations, no frills. I didn’t give a shit about making it cozy. Just needed a place to collapse and drown my demons in peace.

I strode in, not bothering to hold the door for Red, confident that she would follow and I made my way to the makeshift bar in the corner of the room, pouring myself a generous glass of whiskey.

I grabbed a cigarette from the pack on the desk, flicking the lighter open and igniting that sweet, sinful stick of nicotine and I took a long, satisfying drag, savoring the burn in my lungs before looking back at Red.

“What are you waiting for, Doc? A room tour?”

I took another sip of whiskey, the liquid burning a fiery path down my throat. The warmth spread through me, loosening up the knots that had been tying me down since morning.

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