Page 68 of The Devil's Conflict

He finally nods slowly. “Yeah, it looks like Vlad knew they were coming or was planning for the possibility.”

I frown. “But how? I mean, they didn’t know you would be looking that way, right? Not until they got there. And don’t you find it odd they booby-trapped that one and not the one that you already went to look at?”

He frowns. “I mostly figured they didn’t think we would be smart enough to find what they were hiding. And we almost didn’t. But we also jammed any cameras that might be around.”

“Yes, but how did they know Viper and all of them were going to that specific one?”

His frown deepens and I can see his mind working. “I don’t know, but you’re right. They knew we found this one close to us. The only thing I can think is that we got close one time and they didn’t want to chance us finding it and getting in so they rigged it in case we did.”

I nod slowly. “That’s plausible,” I agree, but I also don’t feel like that’s the entire answer. There’s something niggling at the back of my mind, but I can’t seem to grab it. “Either way, it’s not good he was anticipating this, because the next one, you might not be so lucky.” And I really don’t like the panic that settles in my gut at that.

There must be a change on my face because Sniper holds me a little tighter and reassures me, “I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, baby girl. I promise. You and me, we have too much to figure out for that. Don’t forget we’re ready for this. We won’t be caught unaware again. We’ll make sure to take every precaution possible. Besides, you know what I’m capable of and I might have been out of the game for a bit, but I still know how to play.”

“Oh, I remember hearing all about how well you played when I was with my team,” I inform him wryly. “Our team lead hated that you were doing better than us, and most of the time on your own. And then when you did your assassin work, and long-range sniper hits, he was really pissed. Because that was what he wanted to do and he knew deep down he was never going to beat you.”

“Surprised he was able to find out anything about it in the first place,” Sniper answers with a scowl. “That shit was so full of red tape very few people knew where I was and what I was doing.”

“He had an ear to the ground for everything, and I think he was close to some of the real high-ups. Or maybe one of them was his family member. I can’t quite remember, but I just know none of us should have known the things he told us about.”

“What was his last name again?”

“Weaver. His full name was Ian Arthur Weaver, but his code name was Aim. Because he had the best shot in our team and in the entire Forces other than you at the time before you were discharged.”

Sniper’s eyes sharpen. “I wonder if he’s related to General Arnold Weaver. He’s top brass, and if anyone would know where I was, then it would have been him. And it also explains why they didn’t deal with him properly after everything he did.” There’s dark venom in his voice at that.

That definitely does make more sense. I never paid much attention to the generals since they never had anything to do with me directly. “I’m not dwelling on it,” I remind Sniper firmly. “I’ll just take satisfaction that I’m now sleeping with his mortal enemy and call it good,” I joke with a teasing grin.

He smirks. “He’ll be pretty pissed that I still hold the record for the farthest range shot. I heard from someone on my old team that someone was trying to beat it, but never got a name.”

“Yeah, that sounds like him.” We’re quiet for a moment, and I finally ask, “When you were out on those missions, were you always alone? Or did you have a team with you?”

He’s quiet for a moment, but I feel the tension building. I turn myself so I can throw my legs over his and wrap my arms around his middle, resting my head on his shoulder in silent comfort. I won’t push him to tell me what he’s not ready to share, but I want to understand him. I want to understand what he was doing in the ten years since I last saw him.

Finally he answers, “Most times I was on my own. Not because I didn’t work well with my team, but because I was constantly pulled away to handle one target or another. It got to the point that my team rarely used me on any of their missions because the upper brass wanted me elsewhere. Only, they couldn’t not have me connected to a team otherwise I would just be an assassin. They wanted the appearance of me being a team player who was a really good shot. But when you don’t work with your team often, you don’t gel as well. They almost didn’t seem like they knew what to do with me. At first, I was a bit put out, unclear on why they couldn’t understand that I had no say. I was just following orders, but that didn’t mean that I was any different than before.” His face goes dark and almost self-loathing at that.

“But you were,” I murmur, understanding dawning. “Doing that, being that person and constantly on your own changes you.”

He nods. “I didn’t see it, but my team did. They saw I was changing into something colder, harder. I wasn’t the man that helped them through so many missions, or sat back and had a beer when we had rare down time between missions. And I can’t blame them, because they were right. If they wanted someone watching their backs, sure, they wanted me, but it’s not the same as working with your team every time. You develop your own rhythms, and mine wasn’t gelling with theirs anymore.”

“So you just accepted working on your own?” God, he must have been so lonely.

He shrugs. “It was better for everyone and I was good at what I did. And it also meant I didn’t have to worry about anyone but myself. I could focus on my assignment, and when I was done, I was done.”

“And what did you do on your downtime?”

He winces at that and I instantly know what he’s about to say. I tamp down the jealousy, reminding myself I have no right to be upset that he had a life during the past decade. It wasn’t like he was pining for me. “I really don’t want to talk about other women when I have you in my arms and in my bed,” he says gruffly.

I’m a little relieved by that, but at the same time, I remind him, “I’m not going to be upset that you slept with other women, big guy. We’re both adults, and we’ve had relationships or hook-ups since we met. But you’re right, let’s leave that alone. No point in adding salt to the wound.”

He nods, his dark eyes flashing with relief before it’s gone. But then he gives me a rueful smile. “You always seemed to pop into my thoughts at the weirdest times. I’d hear your sassyremarks in my head, or wonder where you were and who you were driving crazy.”

“Really?” I’m surprised at that.

He nods. “It wasn’t all the time or anything but enough that I felt like an idiot. I was just another CO to you, and one that pushed you hard. I said things to you I realize I probably shouldn’t have, but I wanted you to push yourself. I wanted you to be all you could be, especially when I thought you were going to give up.”

I cock my head at him. “I’m not going to lie, I was really pissed at you for a long time. Especially after you told me I wouldn’t amount to anything and that I was just going to drop out like the rest. But now, I’m grateful you told me that, because you’re right, I was about to quit. I was so tired, and so angry that everyone around me never seemed to care or want to help me like they did the rest. A lot of the men in our group only saw me as a pretty face and they were sure I wasn’t going to last so they made their stupid comments about my body or how weak I was. The women weren’t much better. There wasn’t a girl power, hurrah, kind of thing going on between us. Most of the time it was a competition. We wanted to show we were as strong as the men, but also that we could be better than each other. There were times we were friendly, but those were few and far between. And I had enough that day. My mother called and told me that Theo had been home for a visit and she missed me. I was so homesick. I had no friends there and I wanted to curl up in bed and cry. But that was a weakness I couldn’t allow myself. So I went to work, and I didn’t give it my best. If you hadn’t talked to me the way you did that day, if you hadn’t made me so angry, then I probably wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have taken the steps to prove you wrong.”

“You’d have gotten there on your own,” he says confidently. “I might have given you a push, but you had to take the next steps.”

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