Page 215 of Lethal King

To my surprise, it clangs harmlessly against the door, before falling into the shallow water below.

Still, I wait until the echo fades before taking another step forward.

“Fuck. It is disabled,” Deacon curses, hardly relieved. “What does that mean?

Getting closer, I spot something even more troubling.

“There’s blood on the handle.”

“Fresh blood?”

“Looks like it.”

Shit. Did someone beat us here?

My grip tightens around the handle of my gun as I tip my head and search for more blood. But even if there had been more, it would have been instantly washed away by the running water.

My hackles rise.

“Wait outside,” I tell Deacon.

Reaching out, I place the tip of my barrel against the heavy door and push.

It creaks open.

“Boss, I can’t let you go in there alone,” Deacon says, pulling up beside me.

‘That’s an order, soldier.”

My voice is stern and loud enough to make Deacon pause.

“What if there’s an ambush waiting inside?” he asks.

“I’m more worried about an ambush coming from out here,” I tell him. “You saw the blueprints. The halls upstairs are tight and winding. There’s nowhere to hide an army. There’s no room to spare in a fight. If we go together, we’ll just get in each other’s way.”

Deacon chews on his tongue as he considers my explanation.

“Fine. You’re the boss,” he finally agrees.

“Don’t forget it.”

I’ve hardly taken a single step inside before he’s at my back again.

“So, What?” he asks, already restless. “I just wait here and call you if I see anyone coming?”

“That’s the idea.”

“Sounds boring.”

“It’s better to be boring and safe than reckless and sorry.”

Fuck. I’m starting to sound like my father.

… That’s not exactly a bad thing.

“Alright. Alright. I’ll be your eyes out here,” Deacon says, retreating back into the tunnel. “Just promise me you’ll be safe, boss. I don’t want to leave here alone.”

“You won’t,” I promise him.