Page 18 of Colombian Chemistry

Instead, I gave her a more concise answer. “A different branch, but sorta similar.”

The flames illuminated the golden highlights in her hair as she stared at me in awe. “Wow. That’s amazing. You must have been really good at what you did to get picked for something so elite.”

“Yep.”

“And those men today,” she asked, then stopped and swallowed. “Those weren’t the first people you killed?”

I wanted to burst into belly laughter at the ridiculous thought that those were my first kills, but I choked it down. “No, they weren’t my first.”

“Does it... bother you that you killed those men today? You don’t seem the least bit fazed.”

A sharp inhale steeled my spine. “Not in the slightest. Those men were dangerous killers who deserved their fate. Wouldn’t you agree?”

She lifted a shoulder and dropped it. “Honestly? I don’t believe anyone deserves to die. I think everyone should get a chance to redeem themselves and start over.”

This time I didn’t hold back the laughter in my gut. It rolled out of me as I rocked back and tossed my chin up in the air.

“What? Why is that funny?” She crossed her arms.

“Um, because it’s ridiculous. Those men weren’t going to suddenly stop being drug cartel members and join Green Peace. They are killers through and through.”

“You don’t know that,” she argued.

“Uh, yeah. I do. I spent almost a decade hunting down men that have killed hundreds... some thousands... of people, and let me tell you, even in the last moment of their life, not a single damn one regretted it. Not all people can be redeemed, and if we followed your suggestion and just asked them nicely to stop being murderous psychopaths and sent them on their way, countless more innocents would be dead now. When a dog is rabid, you put it down before it can bite you and take you with it. These Cartel men are like rabid dogs. They’re infected to the core with darkness, and the world is a much better place without them. I don’t regret putting a bullet in their heads today for even a hot second.”

“But...”

I twisted my face into a grimace. “No buts. That’s a cold, hard, indisputable fact. Do you want to know what would have happened if I hadn’t killed those men? They’d have taken you. Sure, they’d likely not have harmed you because of the size of your ransom, but while they held you prisoner, I bet you’d have met a lot of ladies who didn’t have rich daddies to bail them out. You’d have seen up close what happens to countless women in the world. They’re bought and sold, used up until there’s nothing left of them, and their bodies just give out. Taking out those men today meant there are three less predators hunting down innocent women. Three less predators killing people and leaving families broken and mourning. Three less drug dealers putting lethal drugs out on the street. So, yeah. I’d kill them again, and again, and again.”

She sighed and shrugged. “I guess I get that, and I’m not saying I’m judging you, but I couldn’t kill anyone, no matter what. I just couldn’t.”

“You’ve got a gun. A sweet ass sniper rifle and you get a call that there is a suicide bomber heading toward the school you’re surveying.”

Her brow pushed together. “What are you talking about? Why would I be surveying a school? And I don’t even know how to shoot a gun.”

I ignored her and kept on. “There are a hundred little kids playing on the playground, and you’re looking everywhere for the bomber. Then you see him heading toward the schoolyard. What do you do?”

“I’d call the cops to arrest him.”

“Cops are five minutes out. This guy’s twenty seconds away. Time’s ticking, Sweetcheeks. Do you pull the trigger?”

“I don’t know if I could. I just think that maybe—”

“Fifteen seconds...”

“Just wait!” she lifted her hand. “I would need to—”

“There’s little Timmy. It’s his sixth birthday today, and he can’t wait to get home so his dad can teach him how to ride his new bike.”

“That’s not fair!”

“Ten seconds. That’s Suzie. Isn’t she cute? She’s got a brand-new baby sister at home who she can’t wait to sing a lullaby to tonight.”

“John! That’s just wrong!”

“Five seconds. You gonna take the shot or watch all those little kids die?”

“John!”