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David stared. “You want me to essentially hand over my position as head of Fort Dale to you? On a platter?”

“Well, it’s either that or I hand over everything to Command and let them do what they will. Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t think they’ll be kind. They might be willing to overlook all the other boy toys, but Christian? You’ll be crucified. And I doubt Christian will come out unscathed,” Philip said with the politest of smiles.

“You son of a bitch,” David growled, stepping forward.

Christian rounded the counter, not looking at Philip. “Hey, don’t. Don’t give him a reason.”

“And before you get any smart ideas, all my evidence is stored in several places. Well, and if anything...untoward should happen to me, know that my...friend is instructed to hand over everything,” Philip continued, unfazed by David’s outburst.

“You think I’d try to have you killed?” David asked in disbelief.

“You are a noble and honorable man, David, but nothing fights harder than a wounded, cornered animal,” Philip said simply.

Christian shook his head. “David, don’t. I-I can do this.”

David looked down at him, frowning. “What? Do what?”

Christian smiled. “It won’t be too hard to spin them a tale of woe and troubles. I can tell them I was the one who kissed you, that you were very kind about the whole thing and never let it go any further. You’ve been a good general, leader, and mentor, and I was the one who went too far.”

Philip scowled, “Noble, but that’s hardly going to work.”

Christian smirked. “If it wasn’t, you wouldn’t look so irritated.”

David turned Christian to face him, shaking his head. “Like hell. You’re not ruining your life for this, no.”

“What are they going to do? Kick out someone who was already thinking about getting out anyway?”

“And get your record ruined for it?”

“It’s better than you, who would get his entire career ruined because some pompous douche couldn’t get the job right.”

Philip cleared his throat. “I am still sitting right here.”

Christian turned a glare toward him. “I’m aware.”

David shook his head again. “No, Christian, no. You don’t need to go to bat for me again, especially when itwouldruin everything.”

Christian smiled. “And how would you stop me?”

David chuckled, tapping Christian’s cheek lightly. “Because you don’t need to.”

“They’ll tear you apart.”

David hummed. “I know. I’ll probably end up demoted, losing my position. I might be lucky enough not to get a discharge, but I’d be tainted for the rest of my career. Which is more than I can say for Philip.”

Philip looked back at him, confusion on his face. “Pardon?”

David gently pushed Christian away to face the pudgy man. “October 2nd, 2011.”

Philip’s eyes widened, face going pale. “You...you didn’t.”

David tilted his head, barely contained glee in his voice. “I did.”

Christian looked between them. “I’m...confused.”

David held Philip’s gaze. “October 2nd, 2011. Philip had been transferred to Fort Dale only a couple of months beforehand. It was covertly made known to me that he came with a few...problems but that they shouldn’t be a problem. That was, until the 2nd. See, Philip here had a bit of a party problem.”

Philip’s face flushed. “You said you’d taken care of it.”