Page 10 of Destroyer
Silence.
Teddy never knew how to answer that. Of course, he wasn’t okay. He’d just killed three people. But he was there to take out the enemy, so he’d keep his emotions in check.
“Theodore, parlami fratello. Stai bene? Talk to me, brother. Are you okay?”
“All good,” Teddy replied.
“You weren’t hit, were you?”
“Bullet grazed my shoulder.”
“Need a doc?”
“I’m good.”
“Who was the woman?”
“Non lo so. I don’t know. I’m headed to the airport. Once I’m in the bird, I’ll upload the pics, then run her face through IDware.”
“Did they say anything?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell you in person.”
“Tomorrow?” Greystone asked.
“I’ll swing by,” Teddy replied. “It’s been a long four months.”
“Sarà bello riaverti qui. It’ll be good to have you back here.”
“It’ll be good to be home.”
The call ended, and Teddy refocused his thoughts on finding Muhammed Haqazzii and the eight remaining lieutenants in his terror cell. Teddy was up for the task, up for whatever challenges he’d face.
After returning the rental car, he headed over to charter flights. Before climbing the stairs to the plane, he glanced over his shoulder. Though he didn’t see anyone, he couldn’t help but feel like eyes were on him, hiding in the shadows, stalking his every damn move.
He was hunting down the men responsible for The Day of Destruction and, he was fully aware, they were hunting him and the BLACK OPS team with the exact same vengeance.
For this mission, it was kill or be killed.
In the bird, he removed his body armor, then got busy uploading the pics. His phone buzzed with a text.
It was from a woman he’d met for drinks several months earlier.
Hey Tank drinks sometime? Dinner?
Rather than respond, he scrolled down until he found the unanswered texts from Sydney Austin. He’d met her when she’d thrown her sister, Caroline, a surprise party at the Santini family restaurant back in April.
Damn, that was six months ago.
He’d been crazy attracted to her, but after sending her some texts—three, to be exact—and not hearing back, he stopped. Hethoughtshe was interested. He’d been wrong.
But he wasfinallyheading home, and he wanted to see her.
He typed out a text, then deleted it.
Don’t be a pussy.
A smile ghosted across his lips, and he retyped the message.
Hey Sydney got time to grab a drink with me?
He sent it.
As the jet sailed down the runway and lifted off the ground, Teddy glanced out the window into the darkness. His thoughts drifted to the three people he’d killed, and he shook his head.
What have I become?
A monster, the one under the bed.
I’m the fucking boogeyman.
