Page 56 of I Promise You
Creature hides behind a tree somewhere in the distance on a hill, looking for any movement, watching us all like a hawk in the shadows, anticipating.
“Another day in paradise, Reaper,” he murmurs with a low chuckle.
“Roger that,” I reply.
I’m the first to enter. We don’t explode through a wall this time.
It’s more calculated. We want to enter like ghosts that go through walls; I love the challenge. I take out my knife, cutting through the mesh screen. It’s a one-floor house on a ranch.
I make sure my lovely knife always stays sharp.
I spent the whole night sharpening it on the drive here. Thinking of all the ways I will use it on these motherfuckers. They have no idea what they’re doing knocking on my door.
Rooker, Lopez, and Kane follow me behind.
We’re all geared up head to toe, night goggles strapped on tight. Our faces are covered in camouflage paint. And, of course, our masks. Each one of us wears a mask on missions.
“They want to kill Death, they say. The one that wears the reaper mask, they say.”
Admiral Ravenmore’s voice plays in my head vividly and viciously, like a broken record.
They want to hunt me?
I’m fucking game.
I open the window quietly, not making any sound. The noise of the cold wind drowns out our footsteps.
We enter the living room, and I let Rooker take the lead for the first time in a long time. It’s a tactic we discussed on the way here. I want to see how it goes. I want to see if there’s even a slight chance I’ll be able to walk away from this life to join Ari in a civilian one, and the only way that’s happening is if Rooker shows me I can pass the torch to him.
The thought of breaking away from my career was never even a thought. A year ago, I wouldn’t believe where I stand right now.
Danny Rider, captivated by a sweet little soul named Ari, wondering about the possibility of leaving the Navy.
We’re quiet, holding our rifles tight, night vision goggles on, walking through the house.
Our boots quietly step on the floors, and I’m in a different state of mind—the mind of a killer. Death is in my head and he’s excited.
Hell, so am I.
This is the part of the job I hated yet thrived in.
We don’t know how many of these criminals are here, but we figure it out as we go.
The house has a basement that I’m aware of. It’s perfect for questioning and housing more people. There are probably more of these assholes down there.
Rooker is in front of me and we’re ready to capture, but if they engage us first, it’s lights out for them.
Then I smell my sweet little angel. Her sweet perfume that has me always so intrigued totaste her. It fills my nose and spreads everywhere.
It’s only been a few days, and I already miss her.
I need to push her out of my mind even though she’s invaded every part of it devastatingly.
I can’t fuck up, I must stay focused, or it means my team’s life ormine.
Suddenly, I see something on the right side of Rooker through my night vision. A gun sticking out of a hallway to his right.
A dead man, walking.
