Shades of Darkness (Redemption Series) by Melynda Price Page B

behind the counter. The second he slapped it into Haden’s impatient hand, he turned it on the clerk. “Were you going to draw down on me, old man? Is this what you were reaching for?”
    The guy didn’t answer. Not that there was anything he could say to save himself now.
    “I’m going to give you to the count of three to tell me what I want to know, or you’re a dead man. One…”
    “I can’t tell you! I don’t know anything!” the old guy pleaded.
    “Two…”
    “Please…don’t! Oh Jesus! Please forgive me for the mistakes I’ve made!”
    Cale’s gut twisted, a knot of dread stuck in his throat. He tensed—
    “Three…”
    A deafening shot popped in the small office and the old man crumpled to the floor. Haden looked down at him with vacant eyes—the apathetic stare of a cold blooded killer. The crimson pool touched the tip of his right boot and he lifted his foot, wiping it clean against the man’s leg before taking an exaggerated step back.
    “Congratulations,” Cale growled. “You just killed a defenseless old man. You should be so proud.”
    “Shut the fuck up!” Haden snapped, raising his arm to level the .38 Special at Cale’s chest. The revolver’s click chambered another round. “Or you’ll be joining him! Now hand me that damn log book!”
    Cale slid the book across the counter and Haden jerked it out of his grasp. He flipped to the last page of entries, his index finger sliding down, searching the page. “Dammit!” he snarled, slamming the book shut. In a fit of rage, he swiped his arm across the counter, sending the book sailing through the air. Missing Cale’s head by mere inches, the ledger crashed into the wall behind him.
    As quickly as the outburst came, it was over. Haden looked down at the dead man one last time and gave a negligent shrug of his shoulders. “I’ll be damned, you really didn’t know, after all,” he casually drawled, turning to walk out of the office. “My bad.”
    As the door closed behind him, Cale spun toward Rowen and growled, “You know, we’ve all taken sides in this war. And there are things I’ve done and consequences that I’m prepared to live with for eternity, but the senseless killing of innocents isn’t one of them. This does nothing to further our cause. It’s not what I signed up for. The last thing we need is the incessant wailing of the innocent pleading for justice. And I’ll be damned if I want that vengeance brought down on my head!”
    Rowen stood there a moment, watching him with that damn flat stare of his. “You’re getting soft, Cale—or weak. And frankly, you’re no good to me either way. So, buck the fuck up, or go back to Sheol,” he snapped, storming out of the office.
    Cale’s scowl deepened and he shook his head in disbelief. Bastards… You’re all just a bunch of bastards…
     As he turned to leave, he caught Rhen watching him from the corner of his eye, his face an unreadable mask. Rhen never had much to say. He was a good soldier, always did what he was told, took orders—never questioned them.
    “What?” Cale barked.
    Rhen cocked a brow and casually crossed his arms over his chest. Casting an apathetic glance at the dead man on the floor, he said, “You’re makin’ waves, Cale. What the fuck do you care if they die? Look at you, acting all ‘Mother Teresa’ and shit. You’re spookin’ me, and pissin’ Rowen off. So enough already.”
    Before he could reply, Rhen turned around and strolled out of the small office, the soft chime of the bell above the door ringing overhead as he left.
    Aw hell… Cale let out a sigh as he walked around the counter to leave. The dead man’s blank stare seemed to watch his every move, sending a chill of dread creeping over his flesh. How could the others be so ignorant? It was only a matter of time before they all paid the price for Haden’s stupidity.
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    The passing miles failed to calm Olivia’s nerves. Her anxiety prickled Liam’s