Page 95 of In The Trenches (Owens Protective Services)

“You know, the usual. Shopping.”

“Getting new shoes, huh?”

“Along with a few other things.”

“You should get some sleep. You look like shit.”

“Well, that happens when you go traipsing through the woods without the proper gear.”

“How’s Sally?”

“Best friend I could ever have.”

“And Betty?”

“Where she always is.”

He huffed out a laugh. “Then it sounds like you’re all set.”

“I’ll let you know what I get out of her.”

Dash shoved his face back in the picture. “Remember, she’s not Sally.”

“Yeah, I think I’ve got that.”

“I’m just saying, I told you last time, and you didn’t seem to really take my advice.”

“Duly noted. Can I get the fuck off now?”

“I don’t know, can you?” Dash smirked.

“I meant off the phone, and you know it.”

“Sure, you did, boss. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

I didn’t have the energy to keep going at it with him. I was exhausted and in desperate need of some sleep. “Watch the perimeter. I’m getting some shut eye. I’ll have the sat phone on me.”

“Go get some, boss,” Dash cheered me on. I shot him an evil look. “Sleep. I meantsleep, boss. Geez, not everything is a dirty joke.”

I shut off the feed and climbed back upstairs, shutting the door behind me. I thought I would find Beth on the couch, but it was empty. Shutting off the lights, I found her in the bedroom, passed out on the bed. Shucking off my pants, I climbed in beside her, scooting closer than I should have. I was cold, or that’s what I told myself as I nuzzled in beside her. She was a job, and that was it. There was absolutely nothing else going on between us.

I fell asleep quickly, but my dreams tormented me. Beth was standing in front of me, a knife to her throat as she pleaded with me to save her. But I didn’t have Sally with me, and before I could make a move, the man standing behind her slit her throat. I watched helplessly as she fell to the ground and stared up at me like I’d failed her.

I woke up in a cold sweat, breathing hard as I stared down at Beth peacefully sleeping. Rubbing my eyes, I sighed and tried to calm my racing heart. I never had dreams of failure. I was always confident in my abilities, so why was I suddenly worried that I would fail her? My sat phone rang on the bedside table and I quickly answered it.

“Cash.”

“Boss, get the fuck out of there. You’ve got four trucks headed your way.”

I shot up out of bed and shook Beth awake, quickly pulling on my jeans. She must have seen the urgency in my moves, because she got up quickly and followed my lead.

“How the fuck did they find us?”

“I have no idea, but they’re not out for a midnight drive,” Dash answered.

“What direction are they coming from?”

“What direction aren’t they coming from? Fuck, I’ve got no clear way out for you. Get the fuck down in the safe room.”

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