Bulletproof - Xavier Neal Page 0,3

2

Blake

Sometimes I really love my job.

Especially on days like today.

Days where I literally get to light cheating assholes on fire.

Physically. On. Fire.

It may not have been me he cheated on – I don’t exactly date – and LaKeysha Jones isn’t exactly my best friend – although she is the person at the office that I probably like the most besides Sherman the janitor and my second in command Ali Lu – but she does deserve some form of justice.

Or at least possible justice.

Assuming there’s a flaw in my design.

Then again, even if there’s not, environmental dangers will work just the same.

Dealing with people and the multitude of mind aching complications they bring may not be a skill I’ve mastered; however, I do know that doing terrible things to good people should be punished.

I say punished, but it’s nothing too crazy.

I mean it’s not like he’s about to experience the shit Mussolini’s corpse did.

Although, a few of those things may have crossed my mind.

He would make a perfect candidate to test some of my food masked projectiles on.

Tyson Reynolds gives me an uncomfortable glance from where he’s waiting outside the glass training room. “And you’re sure that you can’t just keep using a dummy?”

I very much so still am.

“Company protocol requires in the field simulation after passing prior standard testing methods. That data has already been evaluated and analyzed indicating that it is safe to enter its next phase of testing, which is on a live subject.”

I fucking refuse to call someone who slept with their girlfriend’s younger sister while she was visiting town for Christmas, human.

Social rules are – again – not my strongest suit, but I do know that screwing your girlfriend’s sister without her permission or an agreed upon arrangement is unacceptable behavior.

It’s an action that should receive adequate disciplining, which is more than giving you the nickname “Captain Hook” because of the way your average size cock curves in verbal slander campaigns.

Um…office gossip?

I think that’s what most people call it.

“The test scenario will be short and quick,” I state in the professional tone I rarely fail to maintain. “We need to get a basic read on how it handles while moving in combat and under the stress of a physical occupant.” The tablet in my possession gets cradled a little closer to my busty chest. “If it makes you feel any better,” not that I care, “it’s previously passed the NFPA 2112 standard, our medical team is on standby, the sprinkler system is intact, and your employment contract includes a compensation clause for hazardous training.”

Reynolds grumbles his unhappiness to himself as he changes into the new boots that need to be analyzed. Afterward, he enters the area and takes a defensive stance. Camden Tortorella – his adversary who I don’t have any opinions about one way or another, and who also didn’t express concerns about burns – uses the opposing door to join him. Once they’re both inside, Ali prepares to hit the necessary button on cue.

Unlike at other private security and military companies – or so I’m told since this is the only one, I’ve ever worked for – our recruits are required to treat each training situation they are put in as real as possible. This can and sometimes does lead to broken limbs, the need for stitches or surgery, and on the rare occasion long-term hospitalization. Basically, you’re supposed to do whatever it takes to complete the task minus actually murdering a fellow coworker. Things can get pretty gruesome especially when we’re tactical testing, and if you don’t have the stomach for it, working down here in the pits with me isn’t for you. During one eyewear testing procedure, someone had their eye pop out of the socket and the dude who used to have Ali’s job a few years back threw up his tuna sandwich all over his device as well as my brand-new tennis shoes, which added a special suck factor for me personally because I already loathe having to get new footwear so having to do it again after just having done it made me extra irritated. Part of what sets Haworth Enterprises aside from other organizations is how far and how hard we’re willing to test human limits. The company has other divisions designed for genetic engineering – the legality of which is complicated – however when it comes to advances in gear that’s my department.

My specialty.

My passion.

Basically, the only one I have.

Reynolds makes the first move like the impulsive