Page 59 of Darling Wildfire
I saw the master bedroom door cracked and headed towards it, already knowing I wasn’t going to like what I found.
I pushed open the door.
28
THERON
“Daddy!”
Whit and Cole were huddled together on the floor near the window, gripping each other tightly while a man trained an AR on them. Just the sight of a gun being pointed at my little boy had my blood running hot. Cole’s eyes were fearful as they met mine and Whit had a cut above her eye along with a bloody lip.
Rage ignited in me as I took a step forward only to feel the barrel of a gun get pressed into my temple from a man standing just inside the door.
“Drop the gun.”
This came from a man seated in the armchair across the room. He was not much older than me, maybe mid to late thirties with a hawk-like face and thin build. He was all harsh edges and long limbs with slicked back black hair and sleeves rolled up his forearms revealing a tattoo on his left arm that looked like a logo or a brand I didn’t recognize. He was the only one not wearing tactical gear and carried himself like the one in charge.
“Drop the gun,” he said again as we stared at each other.
I hesitated, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to do anything without risking Whit and Cole so I slowly lowered the gun to the ground and it was kicked out of my reach.
“Have a seat,” the man in the chair said, gesturing to the bench at the foot of the bed. I slowly made my way over to it and perched on the edge. The man’s features twisted into a cruel smile.
“I expected some excitement from you,” he said, looking me over. “You didn’t disappoint.”
“What do you want?” I growled.
The man smiled. “You military men are all the same. At the end of the day you feed off of violence.”
“I’m retired,” I said.
“Ah, but it never really leaves you—the bloodlust,” he said. “I’m assuming you dispatched my team downstairs. I bet it felt good to kill them.”
I didn’t say anything and he chuckled. “It always amazes me how you all think you can commit all the atrocities of war and then come home and do this—” he gestured around the house and encompassed Whit. “—playing house, thinking you can live a normal life.” He looked back at me. “You get bored, don’t you?”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“Actually I do,” he said. “I’ve read your file. It’s a provocative read.”
“My file?”
He stood up and walked over to Whit and Cole. I went to rise but the masked man pushed me backwards with his AR shoved against my chest.
“You have quite the resume.” He ran his Glock down Whit’s cheek, brushing her hair behind her ear with the barrel. She cringed and leaned away. “Had all the makings of a career soldier—except for her.”
“Don’t fucking touch her,” I snarled.
I went to stand again, but the man pressed the gun against Whit’s temple and I stilled. She whimpered, eyes wide looking at me fearfully.
“Who are you?” I demanded.
He turned back to me and Whit clutched Cole tightly as silent tears trailed down his cheeks.
“I go by Vetticus,” he answered. “I’m a recruiter, trainer, sponsor…I wear many hats.”
“A recruiter for what?”
“Atrox Gaming,” he said.
