Page 78 of Deadfall

I leaned out and peppered the enemy’s position while Hangman dove from the cover of the boulder and snuck off through the brush. A moment later, I heard his gun, and snuck off in a different direction. For the first time in a while, I felt like I was back in the forest. I stalked my prey, sneaking through the bushes toward the far side of the ridge until I was close enough that I could hear the enemy's rifle every time he pulled the trigger.

“I’m in position behind the target,” I warned Hangman, so he didn’t accidentally shoot me.

“Get back to the fucking van, Syn!” Riggs yelled over comms.

Instead of listening to that asinine order, I drew my knife, launched myself at the sniper and buried my blade into his neck. We rolled down the ridge in a shower of dust and shale. I latched on and refused to let go until he jerked and went still. I yanked the blade out and wiped it on the man’s jacket.

“You good, Syn?” Hangman asked.

“Yeah, he’s down.”

I threw my sniper rifle over my shoulder and slipped and slid down the hill towards the SUV. Things wrapped up quickly after that. Rex set the charges and we all climbed back into the van. Rex did a quick countdown and hit the button without ceremony. I couldn’t even enjoy the brilliant display of fireworks because the tension in the car was volatile and heavy.

I could tell Riggs was furious. He wouldn’t look at me and I knew I was in for a tongue lashing when we got back to the house. I wasn’t looking forward to it, and the thought of getting yelled at put a damper on what we’d just accomplished. No one spoke the entire ride back to the house. We pulled into the drive and everyone piled out. Hangman gave me a fistbump and winked as we walked inside and dumped our gear.

Riggs was the last inside. “What the fuck was that?”

Everyone stopped what they were doing. I slowly turned to face Riggs and saw him staring at me.

“When I give an order, I expect you to obey,” he snarled.

“We did—”

“Exactly the way I ordered it!” Riggs yelled.

“Hey, man, that was my—” Hangman attempted to step in.

“Did I ask you?” Riggs snarled.

“I can hold my own out there, Riggs,” I growled.

“I don’t care—I give my orders for a reason, Syn.”

“What’s the reason? Because, you’re a controlling asshole?”

“You’re benched.” Riggs walked off angrily towards the kitchen. “Surveillence, jobs—that’s it!”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“You can’t do that,” I protested.

“I just did,” Riggs shouted.

“Fuck you!” I went after him and shoved him in the back.

Riggs whirled around to face me and before I could stop myself, I punched him in the jaw. I knew immediately I’d made a mistake. He didn’t even hesitate and slapped me—hard enough to snap my head to the side. The room fell deathly silent. I slowly turned my head, the shock of him actually hitting me fought with the urge to retaliate further. The fire in Riggs' eyes was vicious as his control frayed dangerously.

“Everyone get out,” he snarled while he maintained eye contact.

The team silently drifted out of the room and we were alone. He grabbed my neck and slammed me against the nearest wall. My adrenaline was already high and this threatened to send me over the edge. I flinched as my back hit the wall and half-expected him to hit me again.

“You’re fucking weak,” he said, his voice strained with contempt.

“If–if you bench me, I–I’m gone.” My voice wavered.

Riggs barked out a cruel laugh. “You can’t do this alone,” he scoffed like it was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard.