D.E.A.D. Till I Die: An Action Thriller (GlobaTech Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: James P. Sumner
mean?”
Santiago struggled to manage his frustration. “What the hell do you think ? You shot Jericho in the fucking head, Chris! How are you okay with that?”
Black took another step toward him, in an attempt to exert some of his newfound authority. “I was following orders,” he replied. “Something Jericho developed an issue with over there. He was talking with our target like he was a colleague! He knew Langley was listening and he disobeyed a direct order...”
Santiago shook his head. “That’s because it was a stupid fucking order,” he countered. “That was Jericho , homie! He was our boss for over seven years, and you blew him away like he was nothing!”
Black moved so he was standing almost nose to nose with the slightly smaller Santiago. “I followed an order given by the director of the CIA—that was all. We’re soldiers, and this is a war. Get in line, or get the fuck out—your call. But make it fast, homie , because I won’t tolerate my authority being questioned in my unit.”
“Your unit, huh? Just like that?” Santiago shook his head and took a step back, holding his hands out to the side. “Whatever, man. Like you say, we all soldiers, right? Just tell me which direction to shoot… boss .”
Black held his gaze for a few tense, silent moments, and then nodded his head. “Dismissed.”
Without a word, Santiago turned on his heels and walked out of the room, leaving Black standing there, breathing heavy with adrenaline and anger.
Once the door was closed, Black waited a few moments, to give Santiago chance to walk away, before picking up the tablet computer he was using and launching it across the room. It hit the far wall, smashing into pieces on impact and scattering across the floor.
Black leaned forward on the desk, staring at nothing in particular. He knew he had to deliver on the next mission. All eyes would be on him, following Colombia and the events of the past couple of days. He knew if he couldn’t hold things together and get the job done, then Langley would find someone else who could.
Did he regret having to kill Jericho? A little, maybe. But orders are orders, and he’d waited his whole life for a chance to head up a unit of such importance. He wasn’t about to let one man’s insubordination get in the way of that.
He left the room, heading outside into the courtyard. Directly across from him was the barracks; off to his right was the armory and motor pool. He could see Santiago ahead, making his way over to where Baker was gathering weapons and equipment, preparing for the next mission. He watched as the men began talking, but he was too far away to hear what they were saying. Judging by their body language, he guessed it was about him.
He shook his head in a moment of anger and headed across to the barracks, where LaSharde was just disappearing inside. She turned in the doorway and, seeing him approaching, held the door for him.
“Thanks,” he said as he reached her.
They walked inside together, entering the dimly-lit corridor.
“You alright?” asked LaSharde.
Black sighed. “No, I’m not. There’s so much going on right now. I dunno... I feel out of my—”
She stepped in front of him, placing her index finger on his lips. “Hey, it’s alright,” she said. “Come here.” She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. After a few moments, they parted, both smiling. “That better?” she asked him.
He laughed. “Much. Thanks.”
She grabbed his hand and led him into her quarters, shutting the door quietly behind them.
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, USA
April 19 th , 2017
10:25 PDT
Jericho Stone gasped as he snapped awake, opening his right eye as he bolted upright in his bed. He felt like someone had ripped him from a nightmare.
“What the hell...?” he shouted out, with an uncharacteristic panic in his voice.
He looked around the room, using his training to quickly absorb every detail; to determine if there
Santiago struggled to manage his frustration. “What the hell do you think ? You shot Jericho in the fucking head, Chris! How are you okay with that?”
Black took another step toward him, in an attempt to exert some of his newfound authority. “I was following orders,” he replied. “Something Jericho developed an issue with over there. He was talking with our target like he was a colleague! He knew Langley was listening and he disobeyed a direct order...”
Santiago shook his head. “That’s because it was a stupid fucking order,” he countered. “That was Jericho , homie! He was our boss for over seven years, and you blew him away like he was nothing!”
Black moved so he was standing almost nose to nose with the slightly smaller Santiago. “I followed an order given by the director of the CIA—that was all. We’re soldiers, and this is a war. Get in line, or get the fuck out—your call. But make it fast, homie , because I won’t tolerate my authority being questioned in my unit.”
“Your unit, huh? Just like that?” Santiago shook his head and took a step back, holding his hands out to the side. “Whatever, man. Like you say, we all soldiers, right? Just tell me which direction to shoot… boss .”
Black held his gaze for a few tense, silent moments, and then nodded his head. “Dismissed.”
Without a word, Santiago turned on his heels and walked out of the room, leaving Black standing there, breathing heavy with adrenaline and anger.
Once the door was closed, Black waited a few moments, to give Santiago chance to walk away, before picking up the tablet computer he was using and launching it across the room. It hit the far wall, smashing into pieces on impact and scattering across the floor.
Black leaned forward on the desk, staring at nothing in particular. He knew he had to deliver on the next mission. All eyes would be on him, following Colombia and the events of the past couple of days. He knew if he couldn’t hold things together and get the job done, then Langley would find someone else who could.
Did he regret having to kill Jericho? A little, maybe. But orders are orders, and he’d waited his whole life for a chance to head up a unit of such importance. He wasn’t about to let one man’s insubordination get in the way of that.
He left the room, heading outside into the courtyard. Directly across from him was the barracks; off to his right was the armory and motor pool. He could see Santiago ahead, making his way over to where Baker was gathering weapons and equipment, preparing for the next mission. He watched as the men began talking, but he was too far away to hear what they were saying. Judging by their body language, he guessed it was about him.
He shook his head in a moment of anger and headed across to the barracks, where LaSharde was just disappearing inside. She turned in the doorway and, seeing him approaching, held the door for him.
“Thanks,” he said as he reached her.
They walked inside together, entering the dimly-lit corridor.
“You alright?” asked LaSharde.
Black sighed. “No, I’m not. There’s so much going on right now. I dunno... I feel out of my—”
She stepped in front of him, placing her index finger on his lips. “Hey, it’s alright,” she said. “Come here.” She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. After a few moments, they parted, both smiling. “That better?” she asked him.
He laughed. “Much. Thanks.”
She grabbed his hand and led him into her quarters, shutting the door quietly behind them.
SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, USA
April 19 th , 2017
10:25 PDT
Jericho Stone gasped as he snapped awake, opening his right eye as he bolted upright in his bed. He felt like someone had ripped him from a nightmare.
“What the hell...?” he shouted out, with an uncharacteristic panic in his voice.
He looked around the room, using his training to quickly absorb every detail; to determine if there
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