Love Struck Delusion
Chapter 230 - I'm a doctor.
Raptor's POV, An hour later.
You know this wasn't all too bad. I didn't have a lot to worry about just yet today and thankfully after that fight I wasn't being bothered. It is funny though that Marx asked if Pepper and I were mad at each other. We did fight like that. I'm sure she had her way and it was a long time coming for us to go at it. However she broke my streak. I never lost a fight before this. Never been knocked down. Only Shadow did that, but I still beat him. In all my years I never would have guessed I'd be knocked out. Never would have believed it would be by a woman ethier.
"Mmmmhmmm." My eyes glanced down to hear the moan from the wolf in question. We were laying on my bed. Just trying to take what time we had to rest. Nothing else happened after I fixed her ribs. She just wrestled me down and surprisingly enough she turned into quite the cuddler. However now she was asleep and curled up on my side. Fuck Zeta when it comes to her trying to tell me that all dogs aren't alike in most ways. Because right now Pepper was embracing her inner animal. She was a killer and had quite the fucking right hand to her, but if she wasn't still a sweet woman in the end and the more I got to know her the closer she resembled Zeta in fact. They were twins for damn sure.
As time went on I decided to join her for some rest. Sleep wasn't all bad even though I didn't really need it, but it helped a lot with restoring the energy I used when it came to fixing up myself and her mess. Marx was however still a concern for me. I knew he was holding back. He was a doctor before a friend and as a friend he will come for my neck soon enough about what I did to Zeta. He even saw what I did just out there during the fight with the gash that Pepper opened up. He's resisting the urge to beat down this door to start asking questions. I'd give him answers because above everyone he was actually a doctor I trusted. Well him and Clamer. I just never trusted the ones with scalpels over pens.
Looking down with the sleeping armored pup at my side, I gave her head one good pet and shut my eyes.
Three hours later.
"So who do I got left?" I asked Hoffer as him and a few other officers were with me in my office.
"Well you got us of course, but the others like Black and his men are in Afghanistan."
"I'm not worried about them. I know where they stand. I'm talking about John, Carver, Dennis?"
Hoffer again calmly replied.
"With Archer."
"What the fuck are they doing?" I asked in confusion that my old friends were helping that man. They weren't power hungry. None of them were.
Keeping the conversation tight, Hoffer then told me.
"I don't know what they're up to. However I know that John and Carver were together for most of this. Chances are they are still together. I know those men Raptor. They aren't like Archer."
"And Dennis?" I then asked in concern as he shook his head and replied.
"No idea. Last thing I heard was that he was in charge of the cleanup detail after you settled things with Hannon. I would like to think Dennis of all people went into hiding after things went south with Archer, but again Raptor, I don't know."
Nodding my head I took a look towards the other officers who were awaiting orders to our one problem. Tapping my fingers on my desk I told them.
"I'll handle the interrogation. I want him in a room and left alone till I get there. No talking to him. Don't even give him a god damn cup of water. Just sit him there and wait till I show up. Should be about ten minutes."
"Yes sir." One of them replied as I then said.
"Dismissed."
Hoffer stayed where he was as it was now just him, Pepper, who was hiding in the corner and myself. Keeping my eyes on Hoffer I asked him.
"How do you feel about all this? Be honest."
Taking a breath, he replied while sitting up.
"I agree with you. I never haven't. I love the idea of starting fresh and after all this suffering we need that more than anything right now. However I ask that you please be careful about G.U.N. I don't trust them."
I had my own worries about what he just said but none of them really mattered considering Hecan hasn't given me much of a reason to care. Keeping my focus on Hoffer I told him directly.
"I know. I don't trust Linnen, but I would like to think after what happened we at least have a foot through the door when it comes to public relations between them and our people."
"All they know is that you want their help. What happened in the capital here is under strict lock and key. We need to get more personal and I don't trust Linnen ether, but he is helping our people more than anyone. Pakistan has to love him, but Iraq needs to know we have a chance. Have you considered going public yet? With him at your side I mean."
I nodded as Pepper approached the desk. Once she reached my side I replied.
"I have. It's going to happen I assure you, but we need some time. Drake thinks it'll be a few days before he hears anything from higher up, but give it time and we should be able to form a truce. Hopefully stop any chance we had at getting Afghanistan bombed and actually focus on a coordinated assault."
"Agreed." Hoffer then muttered as he stood up from his seat. Keeping my eyes on him, I lastly said.
"I'm going to get whatever information I can from the kid Cody captured. Once I have that, I'll sit you down and we can talk about some ideas for getting our hands back on the other city. We need to understand how Archer has changed the layout over there before going in blind with G.U.N at our backs."
"Again I agree with you Raptor. I just want you to be safe about it. This is a perfect time for our traditions to change as a country. As a people. We need them to change for the better and having our own at our back for it will be stronger than any ally. I'm going to let Marx in. Is that alright?"
I nodded knowing that was next up to base. Hoffer went for the door and at the same time I looked to Pepper to order.
"Keep your mouth shut. Let me handle him. In fact, how about you go check on your sister? See how she is doing and if she'll be up any time soon."
Pepper nodded and as Marx came in she gathered her rifle and made pace by him. Marx watched her as she left and once the door had shut behind her did he look back at me to ask.
"You want to talk alone?"
I nodded as he approached the chair where Hoffer once sat. He sat down slowly and once there I told him bluntly.
"I know why you're here."
Giving me a small chuckle he questioned.
"What did you expect? Gord was concerned with you. He even told me some very…...very unbelievable things. Things I'll be honest Raptor, I laughed at him for saying. I will admit I apologized to him last night for laughing but come on. What happened to you?"
"Nothing." I replied as he again chuckled and questioned.
"Really? You know when you first came back I looked at your body. You're in a much better world of shape then you were back in that old beaten down house in the slums. For a second I thought I may have just not paid enough attention, but between the quills and your eyes? Your body has changed and it's not normal by any standard Raptor. You're completely different and what you did in the ER yesterday? You have the few other doctors and myself all rethinking what we spent years learning. It makes us question why we even have a medical field in play when you can just walk in and do something like that!" Marx raised his voice and that got me to just start tapping my fingers again. The cat caught his tone quickly as he knew it wasn't like him to start yelling. I waited till he had relaxed, then I said.
"I know why you're upset."
Instantly Marx corrected me.
"I'm not upset. I just need to figure out what the fuck happened. I don't normally yell or curse Raptor and you know that, but as a friend I have the right to and as a doctor I have the goddamn right to be told the truth about something like this!"
Marx was always a straight shooter and I respected him for that. However I was still unsure how to explain it all to a man of science like him. I sensed he knew that as well and urged me while leaning forward to my desk.
"Just say it. Whatever the reason is, it has to be unbelievable to begin with right? Then just say it and give me a moment to think after. Okay?"
I nodded as he leaned back very slowly to start listening. I wasn't going to get emotional over this. I had no reason too and right now all I could really do was what he said. Just say it.
Cody's POV.
These last few days have been real easy going. I was starting to wonder when Hecan would wire me the last of the money. Clearly Raptor is capable now to handle his own business without me. Even though I'll be honest, I like the guy and the people with him. Like Zeta and her sister. I'm not going to say we're close, but indeed we have good chemistry together. Kicking my feet up and watching over Zeta who was still in a coma, I put my attention into my game and just looked at my phone as it went off in my pocket.
Letting out a sigh I saw it was the boss and answered without delay.
"Cody here."
Putting down my game, I leaned back and listened as I got back from the main man himself.
"There has been a change in plans. How soon can you brief?"
In confusion I replied.
"Right now, but you know this is not your call right? G.U.N put up the money."
"I'm aware Cody and that's not the issue that's changing. Your mission remains the same, but we're adding a secondary. I don't care about Voltz, I care about money and this is good money. Money we need. How copy?"
I knew my boss very well. He had his fingerprints on everything and I knew damn well before any of this that he was playing both teams. He wanted Voltz dead before I took the contract to protect him, but that was only because his contract was opening. It's always been about the money for him. He could care less now. However this had to be big considering he was first of all coming to me and it had to be something local. Ain't no way he would pull me from Voltz's side right now. The contract to keep him alive through this war was one of the biggest hauls our company would pull in. Even if they would only get two or three million off me by the end of it. Looking back to Zeta's face I replied.
"Solid copy. What's the target?"
"Archer. The contract just opened up and we got you already in the middle east, so you're our best shot at getting this cleaned up first."
Widening my eyes and sitting up I questioned back.
"It just opened up? What happened?"
Jessup was always honest with me so he replied.
"Archer made a mistake and killed one of Ying's Lieutenants. Due to how involved Ying has gotten in the situation he had no choice but to let it happen. Right now he has to maintain cover, but Hai isn't going to let this go unanswered. So he's put up the money to have the network open up the contract despite the current situation."
"Does he know?" I then asked as Jessup calmly replied.
"Archer is too concerned with himself to be bothered by this. If he knew then Ying would certainly be dead by now Cody. As far as I know from Hai himself, his plan is to leave the city by the end of the night. He has a plan set in moion but it's going to be held off until he can find a way out of the capital. If for whatever reason he can't leave then that's where you will come in. How the mission is this."
As Jessup went to tell me, I heard the door open behind me and upon looking back I found Pepper coming in. She looked at me but quickly came to her sister's side as Jessup finally said.
"Get to Afghanistan and make sure Ying gets out safe. Don't worry about Voltz. He should be safe enough to leave for a few days. Contract is separate from Voltz and Ying has made these two separate contracts on their own. He's offering ten million for safe escort and fifthteen for Archer's head on top of what he's already worth to the network."
"What am I doing about that then?" I had to question as I was a tad confused by the orders.
"Nothing yet. Focus on getting Hai out of Afghanistan first. I'll send you his private number so you can get into contact. Once the contract has been completed, we'll be taking two million off the top Cody. However once you get Hai out of country, you should think about staying close to the city and begin hunting. Hai just needs a picture of the body, so kill him and send the photo to the same number I'm about to send you. We'll be taking twenty percent of Archer's bounty but it shouldn't matter much if you pull it off."
"I'm just going to ask you now then. I can definitely hang around after, but taking him down in his own home isn't going to be easy. Plus Voltz has a plan to handle him; so why should I bother risking my ass for this? We could easily make that kind of money with the mark sevens." Pepper was now really into me. She got right up next to me and listened. Of course she couldn't hear Jessup as he replied.
"For two reasons. The first is for what you just brought up. The mark sevens are out of the labs and I got a few working models. Of course they are prototypes, but they need field testing. Testing this will provide. I can have a team dead drop it to you within the next few hours. Use it to make sure Ying gets out safe. As you know though Cody…...not a word about the suit to anyone. Even if Ying asks. It's top secret and we can't afford to have the specs stolen. You understand that first of all?"
"Yes sir." I replied back as I gently smiled and pushed the wolf away from my side of the phone. She slapped my arm and backed up as Jessup went on to state the second reason.
"As for the second reason Cody. I want you to try. The money from Voltz is a lot but I need to think about it like a businessman. You are close with the man right?"
"Mhmm." I mumbled as he then stated.
"If you can help get Archer out of office early and save his ass the trouble, I can hopefully strike a deal with him before G.U.N has their way with his regulations. We can set up proper in the middle east. It's the perfect place to lend a hand and a perfect place to test anything we need to be tested out of harm's way."
"I don't think he'll want any part of that sir." I tried to tell him, but Jessup was always a man to try regardless of the advice given to him. So it was no surprise when he replied.
"Let me worry about Voltz. I can talk to anyone. Even a man like him. But Cody you are right. You may not be able to do it alone and if you see there is no way of handling it without an army, then feel free to pull out and go back to Iraq. No harm no foul, but try before you turn away. Please."
"Yes sir." I then mumbled as he then told me.
"Do you want anything else with the armor?"
Nodding I replied.
"Four bricks of C4 and a rifle. One of the good ones please. I can't afford to be unarmed for this kind of job."
"I got ya. I'll text you the location shortly. Just make sure you're there. Peek will be making the drop for you and you know him."
Smiling, I replied while looking back at Pepper who waited for me to be done.
"Yeah I know him. He'll be a good lad. He's never done wrong by me."
"Feel free to keep him if you can afford it over there. He's been complaining about being bored these last few weeks. Give him something to do. Apart from coming up with more of his contrptions." Jessup urged me as I chuckled and hung up the line.
Snapping my fingers as I got my phone away in my pocket. I focused right back on Pepper to ask her.
"You mind if I step out? I gotta talk to Raptor."
Giving me a calm stare back with one eye on her sister, she replied.
"I just wanted to see her for a minute. Make sure she's all good before I go back to see him."
I lost my smile as she turned back around to face me. Once locked onto my eyes she said with a sense of domination to her voice.
"You're talking about C4 and something special called a mark seven. I need to know what's going on and if you're going to tell it to Raptor, I want to be there so I can hear it for myself."
Giving her a small nod and a quick turn of my body towards the door, I urged her.
"Then come on then. She ain't going anywhere."
Pepper huffed and puffed as I got the door opened, but with one last look at Zeta she turned and began to head my way. As she passed me by, I took one look for myself and let out a sigh.
"Fucking Peek."
mT Shadow.