Thicker Than Blood by James P. Sumner

Author:James P. Sumner [Sumner, James P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2017-05-04T04:00:00+00:00

20

11:12 PDT

I yank open the door leading onto the twentieth floor and step through, quickly checking both sides to make sure we’re alone.

It’s eerily quiet, save for a desk phone ringing somewhere on the other side of the office. Josh looks around. “The only way out of here is this door, or the elevators, which weren’t working before. We’re trapped in here, you do realize that, right?”

I let out a heavy, frustrated sigh. “Yeah, I know. I’m thinking.”

I head left, following the layout until I reach the elevators, and hook the strap of the rifle over my head and arm, so it rests comfortably on my right shoulder.

I press the call button again.

Nothing.

Josh gestures wildly with his arms. “Great! We need a plan, Adrian.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Will you relax? Jeez. I thought you were supposed to be the rational one…”

“It’s hard to be rational when you’re being hunted. We’re not all accustomed to shit like this, y’know?”

“Yeah, I know. But you used to be. It’s just like riding a bike, man.” I pause a moment and smile, trying to lighten the mood, maybe lift his spirits, but it doesn’t work. He’s just staring blankly at the wall ahead of him. “What’s going on with you, Josh? Since Sterling exploded on us, you’ve not had your head in the game. Kinda like Sterling, thinking about it…”

He turns to me, his eyes wide. “Oh, I’m sorry! Sorry I can’t remain calm when shit like this is going on! I was never used to this, Adrian. You seem to forget, I spent most of our mutual career behind a desk, miles away from the bullets. I know I can take care of myself, but this is insane. The shit you do, the shit you get yourself in the middle of… It’s a world away from the things I did for this country, and for my own. I’m not you! You bring me along on what’s effectively a suicide mission and you can’t understand when I get a little bit fucking concerned! I have a lot more to lose than you do. No offense…”

“None taken.” I regard him quietly. Adrenaline must be pumping double-time right now, and he’s not controlling it. He’s panicking. “Y’know what? You’re right. You’re not me. You’re better than me. Yeah, you have more to lose, but that just goes to show you’ve accomplished so much more on your own than you ever did booking my Greyhound tickets. But you’re still the same guy I’ve known over half my life. The same guy who steered me through the darkest of times… who is single-handedly responsible for my success. And that guy wouldn’t be acting like a pussy at a time like this.”

He frowns at me and his lip curls with anger. But I don’t care. I’m right and he knows it.

I step toward him. “At first, I thought maybe you were still a little pissed with me about the whole faking my death thing, but that’s not it.

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