Page 29 of Silent Target

I look toward the burning house.

“Then Graves has another reason to be afraid.”

A sound scrapes across the dark building behind us.

Metal against concrete.

Evie’s hand moves toward her pistol.

I step in front of her and raise mine.

A shadow passes across the doorway.

We aren’t alone.

6

EVIE

The shadow moves across the doorway again.

Caleb steps in front of me, shielding me with his body as he raises his pistol.

“Stay behind me.”

The order is barely a whisper.

I draw my own weapon and aim past his shoulder.

“I can shoot.”

“I know.”

“Then stop standing in my way.”

“No.”

Before I can decide whether to be angry, Caleb fires.

The suppressed shot makes a sharp coughing sound.

A man stumbles through the doorway and crashes onto the concrete floor. The rifle falls from his hand and skids into the darkness.

Caleb crosses the distance before the mercenary stops moving.

He kicks the rifle away, checks the man’s pulse, and searches his pockets. Every movement is quick and precise.

Cold.

Professional.

But when he straightens, I see something else in his expression.

Weariness.

Taking a life affects him.

He simply doesn’t allow it to stop him.