Chapter 119: Asher
One time, Capuchin monkey stole my
about
18 meters up a movs–slick ceiba tree in the Gatemalan jungle, middle of the wet season, mid missini, and I’d only put it down for three goddamas seconds to help stabilize a teammate’s busted pokle. The monkey dropped from the canopy like a ghost and matched it up with a spital, scampered tight up the nearest lige like it had been planning it all day.
It was raining sideways, and I couldn’t see more than ten feet in front of me. By the time I’d realized what happened, the little bastant was sitting thirty feet up on a branch with my weapon in its hands and its brady little eyes squinting tight down the barrel.
Thad to scale that tree with no rope, no traction, hall blind, with the very real possibility that a monkey might accidentally fire a loaded Glock inte my
chest.
That was more enjoyable than this night.
At least the monkey had an excuse. These people?
None.
Loud, restless,
high–from–pizza energy. Still half–drunk on whatever was in their Sol cups Someone had a vape that smelled the battery arid and
cotton candy, Someone else was barefoot and stepping on papoorn,
I’d barely sat down before some dude asked if I could shoot blindfolded. Another tried to get me to demonstrate by throwing a fork at an apple across the from. Someone else had just dared another guy to lick a footprint off the floor.
Penny was seated between n
my legs on the floor, leaning bark lightly against one of my knees. It should’ve helped. Should’ve grounded me.
It didn’t.
It made it won..
Her head tied against my thighs occasionally, her voice joining the chaos now and doing what I always do in rooms like this; assessment.
I was only half–listening to the group. The other half of me was
I’d already cataloged every possible threat.
ne had a stance like he boxed, but it was sloppy. The There were four exits. Two that could be easily blocked. Three of the guys had bulk, but not skill. One Strongest, two were the ones who tried to double–am wrestle me elier, Ethan and Joel I knew I could take them both.
I’d gone easy on them. Could’ve dislocated Ethan’s shoulder with half a twist. But there was no point in humiliating them. No point in being a threat in a room full of people already wide–eyed and too curious for their own good.
Still, the way they’d laughed called themselves “strong” – like that word even meant something when you’d never had to use strength for anything other than throwing a ball…
Yeah.
Capuchin Monkey Night was better than this,
And now they were picking a
God help me.
“I feel like we have to go action,” one guy says/“Army guy inspired me.”
“Yeah!” someone else says. “What about Anverican Sniper?”
“Nooo,” a girl groans. “That’s so serious.”
Chapter 119: Asher
“But he’ll be able to tell us
what’s real and what’s
All hra swivel board me
I don’t move
I don’t want to watch a war movie. Not here. Not with these prople.
Penny shifts a little, and I feel her body tease. “Maybe not the best idea,” she sat protly, looking at the group. “Trimit. I mean, Aiber-
“I’m fine,” I say, veice low,
She turns to me, tilting her head, looking up
She shouldn’t look at me like that. Not from down there. Not with her lips slightly parted and her hair falling over one shoulder and her eyes band concerned and
“I mean it,” she says. “You shouldn’t have to watch stuff like that if you don’t want to
I barely hear her
All I can think about is her sitting between my legs, looking up at me with those big green eyes, her full lips way too close to me. All I can think about how easy it would be to lean down and kids her right now. How I would tip her thin back, let my hand slide into that golden hair, grip it, lower her just enough to
“I’m fine.” I say–egain, more firmly this time.
She nods. Bites her lip. Turns back toward the group.
That don’t help wither.
The movie
People cheer Lights d
dim.
The first fifteen minutes are training montages, Chris Ryle, in uniform. Oun ranges. Conversations with his bother. A funeral.
“Is that what training looks like someone whispers.
I grant. “More or less”
Someone else pipes up, “Is it true that SEALs have to hold their breath for like five minutes straight?”
“Depends.”
The musie shifts. Fast kill scene. A child with a grenade. Chris hesitates
The room gors quiet.
Even the drunkest ones fall still
Then: bang
Casps. Someone says, “Dama.”
Someone else: “That’s cold”
2/3
Chapter 119: Asher
“That’s the job.” I say quietly
Penny leans forward a little, arms around her knees.
I can feel the unease in her body now. Like she’s trying not to react but her shoulders are wound tight,
The scene cuts to the sandstorm. Sniper nests. Panic. Bombs.
“Have you ever been in something like that?” someone whispers.
I don’t answer. But yes.
Someone else pokes again. “Did you ever… y’know. Snipe someone?”
Penny
slightly, glares toward them. “Guys.”
They shut up.
The room stills again.
I glance down. She’s breathing faster now. Subtle, but I see it. Feel it in her shoulder brushing against my leg.
Then she murmurs something under her breath
Ton soft. I can’t hear it,
She stands.
Slips away.
| figure
maybe she’s going
to the bathroom Fresh air. Something
But ten minutes pass.
And she doesn’t come
back.
1 feel it like a cold current under my ribs.
I get up
And follow.
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