Page 103 of Haze of Obedience
"Shh." He points to the open front door. "Stay back."
He unlocks the safety on his gun, holds it in the air then creeps forward. As soon as he gets to the side of the door, he steps in the middle and takes two shots.
"Sorry to get blood on your face," he growls.
Andre's voice booms, "I gotta go. He took Naomi."
"Who?"
"Her ex, who's involved with the Colombian cartel."
I shove past Dirk. Two men are crumpled on the floor, dead. Bright red covers the carpet and is spreading by the minutes. Andre has blood splattered all over his face.
"Crap. Zoe, I told you to stay outside," Dirk says.
My stomach flips so fast I cover my mouth. Andre points to a door, and I run, assuming it's a bathroom.
As soon as I get inside, I throw up. I'm hovering over the toilet when Dirk slides his hand on my back and takes over, holding my hair back.
In a gentle voice, he says, "I wish you didn't have to see that."
How am I going to kill if I can't even look at someone dead?
He's right. He was trying to protect me.
I rise and wash my hands, rinse out my mouth, and splash water on my face. I put my hands on the counter and stare at both of us in the mirror.
Dirk's eyes lock into mine. "You okay?"
Tears fall. "I'm too weak to kill, too, aren't I?"
He spins me in his arms. In my hair, he says, "No, my Little Diva. I never said anything of the sort. But I don't want you to have to deal with it."
"I'm never going to be able to protect myself."
He squeezes his arms tighter. "You will. I shouldn't have said what I did earlier. I was trying to find the words. I don't want to think about anyone touching you or harming you in any way. And if anyone tries, I want to be the one to protect you. But I will teach you, so you feel confident."
"You will?"
"Yes. And I'm sorry I'm screwing all this up so badly. I didn't think before I spoke earlier."
I glance up. "You aren't. I'm the one who's..."
"Who's what?"
"Tinker!" a familiar voice calls out.
Dirk releases me and peeks his head out the door but keeps it blocked, so I can't see anything. "Axel. Everyone is fine. Zoe got sick. Hey, Penelope."
"Is Zoe okay?" she asks.
"I'm fine," I call out.
"Throw a blanket over the bodies, Axel." Dirk strokes my cheek.
"Done," Axel calls.
Even though the bodies are covered, Dirk stays between them and me and escorts me to the kitchen. Penelope and Axel follow.
