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Rose grabs my arm, holding me back. “Youlether boss you into coming along on our trip tonight! That was nonsense!”

“She’s head of the nursing unit – she has the authority –“

“She mentionedtwicethat you have some sort ofclaimon her –“

I snarl, slightly panicked – because if Rose puts this together and Nadia thinks that Itoldher – god damn it, but she’ll have my head.

“Cole,” Rose growls, pulling herself closer to me. “You know I’m not stupid. Webothknow that something’s up – and that girl doesnothave the authority to –“

“And neither doyou,Rose,” I snarl, looming over her – bully behavior, I know, but…god, I just really need her to shut up. “Stay in your lane!”

She blinks up at me, offended, and guilt rushes through me for a moment. But my wolf nips at that old habitveryquickly. Rose’snotmy girlfriend anymore. My allegiances lie elsewhere, and it’s time for me totrulyshut this down. Rose can atbestbe my friend from here on out – and if she keeps pushing this, then I’ll have to cut ties completely.

“Don’t you have pictures to sort?” I ask, cold, gently pulling my arm from her grasp even as she attempts to hold on. “An article to draft?”

“Cole,” she whispers, shaking her head, seeing that I’m not falling into her emotional traps like I have before.

I ignore her, leaving her behind as I take the final few steps to the tent and push open the flap, snapping a salute to General Amir as I do.

“I’m going to figure this out!” Rose shouts behind me.

I let the tent flap drop.

Amir raises an eyebrow. “Kincaid,” he says, glancing at the closed entrance and then back at me. “You’re having an unusually noisy night, aren’t you?”

I just groan and hang my head. The General laughs softly, not scolding me, perhaps intuiting that I’mtrulydoing my best.

I take a deep breath. “I need permission for something, sir. And you’re…not going to like it.”

“Well, then don’t ask.”

I raise my gaze to meet his, pressing my lips together, shaking my head. “Sorry, sir. I’ve got to.”

He sighs, leaning back in his chair. “Why do I feel like Nadia is lurking somewhere behind all of this?”

I sigh too and take the seat across from him, ready to plead my case.

Chapter 31 – Guidance

Cole

I look at General Amir evenly, holding his gaze. “I want Nadia to have full access to all the information I have. I want her in on meetings, debriefings, planning, all of it. She’ll have a vote in the proceedings of this operation – even just a minor one. I’m going to tell this to my father, and I want you to support me on it.”

General Amir raises an eyebrow. “Well, that’s a terrible idea.”

I gape at him.

“What?” he asks, smirking at me and lacing his fingers together as he leans further back in his chair. “My girl throws a temper tantrum, and yourewardher withunprecedentedaccess?”

I scoff. “I amnotgiving her rewards – and I’m notrespondingto her temper tantrum like I’m her indulgent father or some-“

“Damn right you’re not.”

General Amir’s tone surprises me. I sit taller in my rickety chair.

“You’re being impulsive, Cole,” General Amir says, his voice low, words swift. “You’re eager to please her, which I understand, but she is a studentnurse. She is clever as anything and a leader amongst her peers, but her clearance in this operation ispreciselywhat it should be.”

“She is –“