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“Got it,” Pyke replied. “I’ll set the timer now. See you in four hours.”
“Night, boys,” I said as I headed out. “Get some sleep. And remember, no matter how much of a pain in the ass she might be, we can’t shoot her.”
The guys laughed as I stepped out of the kitchen. My gear was waiting for me in the entry room, and as I strapped on my rifle and secured my ammo, I found myself thinking about everything we’d need to do in order to get this place secured.
I stepped out into the early morning air, my eyes on the trees as I began my patrol. I was of two minds about the operation. One part of me wondered if it was all nonsense, that good ol’ King Finn was jumping at shadows.
Yet, there was another part of me that believed there really was something to all of this. I’d looked into the man’s eyes, and I hadn’t seen any insanity or paranoia. I saw only concern for his daughter’s safety.
When you worked in the industry I did, closely dealing with people often during tumultuous times, you got to see how they ticked. Knowing your client and being aware of the type of person who was asking you to sign on the dotted line was essential.
Finn had given me nothing but reason to trust him. That’s why my gut was telling me to err on the side of caution, and not get too comfortable here at this very comfortable place.
I kept my eyes on the tree line as I patrolled, wondering what could be lurking in the darkness, and what sort of danger it might bring.
8
HUD
The first day was quiet. Not too quiet but actually downright pleasant. Men like us didn’t get into the line of work we did because we liked peace and quiet. Hell, I’d start to feel weird if too much time went by without getting shot at or having a grenade go off within thirty meters of me.
All the same, I wasn’t about to say no to a little R&R.
“Ah, you’re all shite!” My voice boomed out through the living room, the TV playing in front of me. Aberdeen was having a match, and the boys were doing so poorly that I couldn’t help but make my frustrations known.
“Huh?” Ajax poked his head into the room.
“This.” I swept my hand toward the TV, not even wanting to look at it. “Total mess.”
The confusion on Ajax’s face turned to an expression of amused annoyance.
“I swear, you Euro-types and your soccer. You know, there’s a real sport out there, and it’s called football.” You know, giant dudes in armor slamming into each other? Real stuff?”
I scoffed, reaching for the bowl of pretzels in front of me. I wanted a damn beer more than anything to go with them, but I was up next for the watch.
“You can keep your yank footie,” I said. “This is where therealaction is.”
“Eh. I guess it beats looking over the maps for the hundredth time.”
Ajax lunged across the couch perpendicular to mine and put his eyes on the TV. It was a commercial break, so I took the time to glance over at the view. The towering windows looked out to the mountains, which were still snow-capped even though it was summer. The green stretch of the back property led down into a small, shimmering pond in the far distance.
“Might take a little swim down there if I have the time. The boys love a good freshwater soak.” I swept my hand toward the family jewels.
Ajax stuck his hand out for the pretzels. “I swear, Hud. Is it some kind of Scottish thing that you’re always talking about your balls?”
He laughed, grabbing one of the pretzels and whipping it in my direction.
“Prick.”
I laughed along with him. The game came back on. Before I had a chance to get sucked into it again, I heard the front door open and shut.
“Boys!” Pyke shouted. “Kitchen!”
I groaned, lifting the remote and turning off the TV.
“Shite game anyhow. Come on.”
Ajax and I heaved ourselves off our couches and made our way to the kitchen. Pyke was there with a big box that he was in the process of opening.
