Sophia and Landon are just as much family to him as they are to us, and even if they weren’t, he’d protect all three of them with his own life. That’s an oath he took.”
“My guy took an oath, too, and he’s not a fucking cowboy looking for glory,” Monahan argues.
“When was the last time he had to pull his gun or the trigger on a man in his scope? When was the last time he had to sneak into a building and take out a suspect? This month? This year? At any point in his career?” Dominic points in the direction of the house, and I know he’s indicating Shadow who’s been out of sight for a while. “Shadow did that shit three weeks ago. I’m not saying your guy is bad. I’m saying my guy is better.”
Dominic has a point, and although I don’t know Shadow, my confidence in his abilities grows with each word that comes out of his mouth.
“He can get in there and take that fucker out without the mice in the wall knowing he’s in there,” Dominic continues. “We can end this shit in seconds.”
I don’t have mice, but I understand the sentiment.
Monahan looks from Dominic to the SWAT team waiting on his orders. Peterson is the one to finally step forward, the heaviness of his gear a different sight than when he’s on normal patrol.
“He’s got a point. I’m not a coward, and I’m confident in my skills, but my training is no fucking match for that other guy’s experience. It doesn’t even compare.”
Dominic nods at him, knowing it takes a real man to step up and say that, especially coming from a cop. We all carry this inflated sense of worth and bravado. Yeah, we scare as easily as the next guy, but it’s dangerous to show that in our line of work. Most cops walk around acting like they’re bulletproof all the while knowing they’ll be the first to take lethal gunfire if shit goes down. It’s a very tenuous line to straddle.
“If this goes bad,” Monahan mutters, “it’s my ass on the line.”
“The longer we wait, the higher the chance,” Dominic says, his stance as strong as it was when he first arrived.
“Have your guy handle it,” Monahan finally concedes, and I know it takes a good man to act with what he knows is best rather than letting protocol control his decisions.
The Farmington SWAT team moves back as Dominic issues commands into the mic. I know they’ll step back in if given the command, but they seem okay with letting the Cerberus team take the lead.
“They’re going to be fine,” Dustin says at my side. “I trust that man with my life.”
I nod my head, knowing I have to trust him with mine as well. My arms tremble, muscles needing to do something to burn off the extra energy I can’t seem to get rid of, but I stand as stock still as Dominic does. He’s got a lot to lose here tonight as well, but I don’t think I’ll ever be as calm in situations like this.
Maybe it’s his years of experience or his assuredness in his guy’s skills. Maybe it’s a combination of both, but I bet deep in his soul, he’s screaming as loud as I am.
The insane man in my house represents everything that’s wrong with the world. Turning grief and anger into acts of violence won’t solve a damn thing here tonight. Coming here, no doubt prepared to die, from what we heard him saying to Sophia, was his plan all along, and if Shadow doesn’t move fast this bad situation is going to quickly turn to tragedy.
“Colton,” Dominic hisses, and I snap out of my racing thoughts and look at him. “Best point of entrance?”
“The master bedroom on the west side of the house is furthest from where they are. Less chance of being heard.”
He nods at me, relaying that information.
“I hope this was the right fucking choice,” Monahan says as he rests a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
I don’t know if the touch is meant to calm me or keep me in place so Shadow can get the job done.
“Me too,” I whisper. “Me fucking, too.”
Chapter 36
Sophia
I don’t realize how calming this guy’s pacing was until he stops. He looks at his empty wrist as if there would normally be a watch there. People planning to die sometimes take things off and leave them behind, either just to prepare or because they