The Fired Gun

Introduction-2

“I will not hear a word of protest,” Adelaide insisted as Dakota tried to ignore her. “I cannot afford to lose your services. That woman should have been an easy case. Yet, you nearly bled to death.”

“Do you really have enough friends left to take me out of the game?” he snapped back after a long attempt to stop himself. “Last time I checked, I’m the one person left on the docket to play hitman. At least the only one you’re willing to trust. So, it’s either me or no one.” He hated openly admitting what he did for a living, but everyone in the room already knew. With shaky hands, Dakota scooped some leftover lasagna into a bowl and shoved it into their communal kitchen’s microwave. “You can’t decommission me, Adel. You can’t. Even if I wanted out. You don’t have anyone else.”

That last part garnered an eyebrow raise from Kenna, who sat on the sidelines at the kitchen table. She looked up at the two adults and straightened her posture. But she kept her mouth shut and instead bit into her lip.

Adelaide shrugged. “I did not say I wanted you to stop. But I do think it is no longer appropriate to send you into danger alone.”

“And who’s gonna come with me? You? One of your bed and breakfast buddies?”

He had no patience for this conversation. He was tired and in pain. He missed Kenna. Tracking down that demented hippy meant two whole weeks away from the adolescent in his care, and he hated leaving her for so long with Adelaide and her small Inner Circle. While they taught her everything from trigonometry to personal defense, he was her only true parent. He was the sole person in their little Louisiana stronghold that really cared about her. He didn’t completely trust them to have her best interests in mind.

It wasn’t much, but microwaved leftovers would have to do for dinner tonight, and he could put it on a plate and sit with Kenna and ask her how her studies were going or just inquire about her life. When he wasn’t off retrieving talismans, they actually had a pretty good relationship. One that typically weathered even the worst bouts of angst that arose, which were a foreseeable product of puberty and a childhood plagued by violence.

“Who else? Gage.”

“What?” came from the table. Kenna saw him as more of a secretary than a soldier.

Dakota scoffed. Gage practically ran Adelaide’s whole existence. How would she even function without him? “Uh, I think he’s better suited here. Gage isn’t exactly a fighter, and unless you’ve started using phones and the internet, I think you need him.”

“Gage is resilient, and, more importantly, he is the only colleague of mine who can stand your company!”

Slapping the table, Kenna let out a loud laugh. He snorted in disapproval.

Continuing, “He follows orders. He is incredibly bright. And despite his best interest, he counts you as a friend. I would think that is more than sufficient evidence that his assistance would be valuable. But, regardless, I am not giving you a choice. You will take him with you when you leave again, and on each additional trip thereafter.”

“And what are you gonna do without him?” Dakota cared very little, but it didn’t make sense for her to just give up her most valuable employee, and it seemed even less wise to send him on dangerous missions with a man she barely liked.

“I have identified a few possible replacements. It is none of your concern. Consider it an honor that I am entrusting his safety to you, and do not make me regret it.”

He shrugged, bringing the food over to Kenna and patting her on the head lovingly. “No matter what you say, I don’t think he belongs in a warzone. Hell, most of the time, I don’t think I should be there. I’ll do my best to protect him, but if he gets hurt, it won’t be my fault. It’ll be yours, Adel. Are you okay throwing him to the wolves like that?” If nothing else, he wanted Kenna to see the full implications of Adelaide’s stubbornness.

“I am doing no such thing. It is settled.” With that, she abruptly removed herself from the conversation by leaving the room. Dakota sighed heavily.