Page 127 of Haze of Obedience

"Why do you look so worried?"

She takes a deep breath. "How am I going to hide from the Global Leaders? They're everywhere."

"We will figure it out."

She doesn't appear convinced.

I stroke her cheek. "We have to take this day by day, my Little Diva."

"Feels like that's the story of my life," she mutters.

"What do you mean?"

Her eyes glass over. "The last few years all I've told myself is, 'get through today.' Then when I got clean, I said the same thing. It's just..."

"You feel like you're never going to get to the future?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"I felt the same way when I was in the military."

"You did?"

"Yes. First, it was boot camp. Then the war zone."

"Where did you serve? I never asked you."

My gut flips. "Mostly Afghanistan. A little bit in Iraq. A handful of top-secret missions on different continents."

"What was your job?"

I swallow the thick knot in my throat. I don't know why it still affects me. I shoot people all the time for Interpol. But war is different from my current role. "Similar to what I do now. I'm a sniper."

"So, you never miss?"

"No. I don't."

"You're the best person to teach me to kill someone then?"

My heart beats faster. "You still want to know?"

She nods and quietly says, "Yes."

"Zoe, I'll show you how to handle a gun and some self-defense moves, but we're going to talk about the mental piece too. I won't do it without a discussion. If you ever had to implement what I show you, it's best you're prepared."

She lets out a big breath of air. "Okay."

"But you're staying with me, and I'll protect you, orange hair and all."

She smirks. "Funny."

We finish our meal and get back on the road. Several hours later, we get to the border. It's dark and foggy, but the vehicle lights shine on a gate. I use the burner phone Tinker gave me, call the number, say the code, and the gate opens.

"Why do I feel as if we're in a horror movie right now?" Zoe mumbles.

"Blah!" I scream and throw my hands toward her.

She jumps, and I laugh. She smacks my arm. "That is not funny! You almost gave me a heart attack."