Page 15 of Enemy of My Enemy

Ethan’s world, his life, and even he himself had changed. Was continuing to change every day.

But, no matter what, there would always be that part of him, that pitch-black, oil-slick place buried in his soul that held all the things he never wanted to remember. He could feel it slide, slippery, like a snake against the base of his spine. The last time he’d touched his darkness, he’d been facing Jeff Gottschalk, a man who had a gun to Jack’s head. His hatred had roared and he’d delighted in Jeff’s murder. Crawling back from the edge of that had been soothed by Jack’s love and he’d poured himself into what they had together. It had been a balm against his demons, a soothing caress that tamed his darker underbelly. Did he want to go near that again?

The opportunity to take down Madigan, the man who had almost taken Jack from him, called out to him, though. That shadowy corner of his soul yearned, begging for the chance to retaliate. To destroy.

His hands clenched into fists and his palms itched, desperate for action. He could practically taste the sand on his tongue, the grit of gunpowder and the sun-scorched heat of the desert.

He took a breath, closing his eyes as he dragged in a steady inhale. Things were different now. He was a different man, perhaps even a better man. He was with Jack. He was Jack’s first gentleman.

Though, this wasn’t what he’d thought being the first gentleman would be. From florists to state dinners to clandestine kill missions.

When would the whiplash set in?

Ramirez and Jack were still talking. “The Constitution defines treason as levying war against the US, adhering to our enemies, and giving them aid and comfort. No individual can be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses or on confession in open court.”

“I, Lawrence Irwin, Special Agent Collard, and Ethan all gave testimony in closed proceedings as direct witnesses to Madigan’s actions. Director Campbell presented his findings from their investigation. Attorney General Carter issued a sealed indictmentin absentiaagainst Madigan and charged him with treason against the United States. She briefed the National Security Council, and you were present in that briefing.” Jack and Ramirez went step-by-step, formulating their case and ensuring all legalities were followed.

Ramirez nodded and finally smiled. “I feel confident due process has been followed in the issuance of the indictment. Former General Madigan remains an imminent threat to the United States. Based on the facts at hand, I believe a National Security Presidential Directive authorizing lethal force against Madigan is legal. I’ll have a memo for you in an hour.”

“Thank you.” Jack shook her hand. “You’ve done so much for me. Thank you, for everything.”

Ramirez smiled, and her gaze bounced over to Ethan for a moment. “Happy to do my job, Mr. President.”

Ethan waited for her to slip out before he spoke. “So we are going to do this? A black strike kill mission?”

“If he’s making moves again, I want to shut him down before any of his schemes even has a prayer. Intel has been sketchy, but maybe this is where we’ll get him. I don’t want to quibble. I don’t want to waste time. I just want him dead.” Jack’s eyes were hard.

“Jack…” He swallowed. “I’m with you all the way, always. But you need to know, a mission like this… There will be costs. There will be hard choices to make. There will be tactics needed that might be difficult for you. Men like Madigan don’t have limits. They push and push and push until you’re past your own borders. Doing things you thought you never, ever would.”

Jack was silent.

“I come from that world. I have some history here, and I know the kinds of things we’re going to have to do. Going to have to accept. There will be hard choices,” he repeated.

“I have complete confidence in you, Ethan,” Jack said softly. “I trust you completely in this, and in everything.”

Snorting, Ethan looked down. “You know,” he said, a mirthless chuckle falling from his lips, “I’m not that great a guy.”

“You are to me.”

Silence.

“You are.” Reaching out, Jack tugged on Ethan’s navy tie, gently pulling him close. Jack let his lips hover just in front of Ethan, for a moment, as Ethan stared him down with a quirked eyebrow and a shy smile.

And this was what he loved about Jack. Strength wrapped in an effusive optimism, a soul that promised the world would be a better place if you only just held on and never let go. A solid core of unflappability, the center of him rooted in gentle happiness. Jack radiated joy to Ethan’s soul, and he basked in Jack’s grins, his playful personality, like a tree turning its leaves to the sun. His whole life was reoriented toward Jack. Who would have thought his world would be remade by this man with a goofy smile and stunning blue eyes?

Leaning forward, Ethan dropped a quick kiss to the tip of Jack’s nose and pulled back, grinning at Jack’s surprised laugh.

Not missing a beat, Jack closed the fractional distance between them and captured Ethan’s lips. His hands fell to Ethan’s hips, and Ethan cupped Jack’s face, his fingers sliding through the dark blond strands of Jack’s hair. The kiss deepened, and Jack’s hips started rolling into Ethan’s.

Jack pulled Ethan flush against him and turned them both, steering Ethan toward one of the couches as he pushed Ethan’s jacket down his arms. Ethan’s fingers flew to Jack’s tie, tugging on the red silk, loosening it and pulling it free. The tie sailed through the air, draping over the back of the second couch.

Jack’s hands dropped to Ethan’s belt buckle as his tongue dueled with Ethan’s.

“Mr. President—” The door opened and Mrs. Martin, Jack’s secretary, walked in.

Whirling away, Jack broke the kiss and turned his back to the door as Ethan collapsed to the couch, sitting and hunching over his lap. He shrugged back into his jacket.

Jack kept his back to the door as he reached out and swiped his tie from the other couch, rolling it around his hand as if he could hide it. “What’s up, Mrs. Martin?” Ethan could hear the edge of hilarity in his voice, the forced lightness that trembled on the edges.