“Did I miss somethin’ here?” Ford asks, his question going unanswered as he stands beside me with his arms crossed, his bulky body taking up the rest of the walkway, foiling any exit strategy Lili may have planned for herself.
Whatever you do Ford, don’t move.
At least I could try to talk to her this way, and I pray she doesn’t shut down. I just don’t want her to leave without knowing the full story.
Hell, I need the full story.
Shark better start explaining why he defied my direct order and instead kept digging. He would’ve done this only if he found something worthwhile. The thought makes me sick.
It’s all mind games now as the banging on the door intensifies inside my mind.
Show no weakness, and don’t give up the fight. Two mottos of a Marine. Well, this Marine died in Afghanistan. He’s never coming back. Those sayings are null and void.
All business now, Shark exhales when Lili shifts on her feet, face flaming with kept secrets and a mean to murder.
“Corporal has my back; we protect our own. You mean a lot to him, which lead me to protect you, too.” Lili opens her mouth to start her rampage, but Shark stops her. “Hear me out,” he held up a finger, “Give me a few minutes to explain why I did this. God knows Corporal is behind me ready to rip me a new one.”
Ford chuckles beside me not grasping the intensity of it all, “Ha, you got that right Shark. Your ass better be ready to rumble.” He groans and stretches.
I get Ford trying to lighten the mood, but it’s only pissing me off more. He and Shark are on my shit list.
“I’m gonna to need coffee before I can process whatever the hell is goin’ on right now, kay?” He pushes past us, grabs a cup, and pours himself some of the dark liquid, sipping it as if there isn’t a huge crisis going down right now.
My thoughts are chaotic as I try to grasp the reasoning behind this mess. Could Shark really be onto something? What else did he find in her history that made him want to involve the team? And why did he leave thefuckingfolder out for anyone to stumble upon?
I’m a hairs breath away from doing something I’ll regret later.
*Inner demons*Do it! Let your rage free! We want free, Zander!
They’re banging and pushing on the door, and I don’t know how much more I can take.
Please, help me.
Focus on Lili, she needs you. The thought of her sends my demons stumbling back a step.
Lili’s face is ashen against the dull manmade lighting, her body trembles as she tries maintaining her façade. Whatever is in that folder cannot be good. It takes all my willpower to hold back from wrapping her in my arms. She wouldn’t accept me holding her right now anyway.
Why couldn’t I have been the one to find the damn folder, be the one to confront Shark at his stupidity.
I want to reassure her things will be alright.
They will be, right?
“Let’s talk.” Shark motions to the folder on the table. “Give me five minutes, after that you can take your anger out on me.”
Ford let out an amused chuckle, “Is that all the time it takes now, Shark? You used to have more stamina than that. You're gettin' soft buddy.” Ford takes a loud sips of his coffee.
Shark is quick to stand toe to toe with Ford, and I question if I’m going to be the first one to throw a punch this morning.
“Lili is in danger, and you are trying to make sexual innuendos? Not the time fuck face.” Shark’s tone is full of indignation as he glares at our brother.
The sensation of being doused in ice water suffocates me.
Lili stiffens in the same moment. Ford's face goes ashen, and he swallows hard. He knows he fucked up.
“Sorry. I'm – uh, I think I’m still a bit drunk.” Ford weighs a petty excuse as he scrubs at his face.
I need to know right the fuck now what is going on. I can’t lend my aide if I do not know what we are facing. Protector mode clicks into place as my mind plays out potential scenarios, all negative ones as I try and keep the demons at bay but their relentless.