Page 28

M addox

“You’re not going anywhere,” Jack stated, the attorney smirking.

This was bullshit. I’d been lured into bringing home what everyone thought was a fugitive.

I threw the man a hateful look, contemplating my options as I thought about the jump drive in my possession. If Charmaine said anything about what she’d obtained, there was a small chance she’d be implicated in an act of treason.

And I could go down with her.

By just studying Gray’s face, I sensed he didn’t like being a part of the witch hunt. It would seem the two of us had been led down a long trail that wouldn’t end well.

“Yeah, I am. I refuse to allow you to railroad Ms. Douglas.” I had my hand on the door, prepared to follow through with my threat.

“Lieutenant Grant, while the United States Navy appreciates your service and your sacrifice, you’re not in a position to make a single unsubstantiated claim against the government.”

Everything about the FBI agent’s tone and his words infuriated me.

“And why is that?” I shifted slightly, eager to hear what the man had to say.

“You’ve done nothing but treat both Ms. Douglas and me as enemies of the state.

I don’t think that endears you to either one of us, let alone provides a reason to cooperate.

” I tilted my head, eager for his reaction.

“That’s not true, Maddox. We did send a SEAL team to secure your safety,” Gray said more quietly than before.

I glanced at him and shook my head.

The agent took two long strides in my direction. If for some insane reason he thought he could intimidate me, the fucker was sorely wrong. He looked me up and down, the typical sizing-me-up routine. I did the same just for the fuck of it. No longer was I mandated by protocol to show respect.

Did I love my country? Of course I did. That’s why I’d almost died twice in defending everything I held dear about life and democracy, but I refused to head down a road of falsehoods and lies just to tie up loose ends. Charmaine deserved accolades, not accusations.

“I am well aware of what you went through in El Salvador and in Kandahar, son. I know you were falsely accused of crimes you did not commit. That haunts you to this day and taints your stellar record. This is a way for you to show the military and the rest of the world you are a loyal SEAL.”

“What the hell would you know about that?”

Agent Wilshire sighed. “I served several years in the Navy. Your SEAL team was highly regarded, soldiers the guys in my unit looked up to.”

Well, my God. There it was. The strange thing about the words the agent was spouting off was that he was nervous that I’d rebuke his hard push. Because he sensed I’d gotten close enough to Charmaine to learn actual truths.

The only real bargaining chip either Charmaine or I had was the jump drive.

“What do you want?” I asked. Learning what they were after would at least shed some light on whether this was nothing but a fishing expedition.

Now only the admiral and the attorney commiserated by locking eyes with each other. Gray was clearly annoyed.

Jack cleared his throat. “We need to know what you witnessed and what Ms. Douglas said about her meeting with Alfaro.”

“She didn’t have a meeting with Alfaro, Mr. Price.

She was kidnapped, held in a concrete bunker, deprived of food and water.

A bunker I know too goddamn well as the three of you should know.

She was also beaten, as evidenced by the bruises on her face.

We had a harrowing experience after her extraction and quite frankly, I’m surprised we weren’t killed prior to leaving the godforsaken country. ”

“Looks can be deceiving,” Agent Wilshire stated.

This was getting out of hand quickly.

“Hold on here. As Lieutenant Grant stated, unless you’re prepared to accuse him of a crime, I suggest you back the fuck down.” Gray’s face turned red as he stepped closer, sliding between the two of us.

I purposely took a step to the side so the federal agent and I could maintain eye contact.

At that point, I offered a wide smile. “Steven, no offense and I say this with utmost respect for your position. The line of garbage you just spewed is fucking bullshit and you know it. Fernando Alfaro is ceremoniously eliminating various members of governments you believe to be allies. From what I understand, that is a factual statement. I don’t know why you seem to want a scapegoat, but I won’t be a party to watching you crush her reputation and railroad her into being held responsible.

She did nothing wrong. Were her actions reckless?

Maybe, but she’s one of the few people who had the balls to take on a brutal drug lord and live to tell about it.

Now, unless I’m being charged with a crime, I’m outta here. And I am taking Ms. Douglas with me.”

“Be very careful, Lieutenant Grant. You’re coming close to insubordination. Your record also indicates you’re a loose cannon. We can’t have that.” The attorney was pushing every button. They were afraid of being upended by a reporter.

My laugh was more jovial than I felt. “Well, you don’t have a say any longer. Maybe that’s something for you to keep in mind.”

“Let me talk to the lieutenant,” Gray insisted. “It’s obvious you don’t understand what he’s been through.”

“He’s not cooperating,” Jack answered.

“Is he being held against his will?” Gray pushed.

Jack and the agent looked at each other once again. What was wrong? They couldn’t figure out how to handle me.

Finally, the agent took a step back, conceding his position. “No. He is free to go. As long as he provides the required report on the steps taken, we won’t need to speak with him again.”

A laugh was already forming. They were playing a game with me. I could only imagine how Charmaine was being treated. And they were fishing. They had no clue what was going on with Alfaro, but my educated guess was screaming they believed someone high up in the ranks had betrayed the country.

“I said, you will allow me to talk to the man I hired at your request to extract Ms. Douglas. Now. Leave the room.” Gray’s vehement tone was the only reason I didn’t walk out, prepared to do whatever it took to find Charmaine.

Gray was no longer under the obligation to follow the admiral’s orders. I applauded his interference.

Even if I wasn’t entirely certain I could trust him.

The two men were obviously none too happy, storming from the room after the agent threw open the door.

Gray softly closed it behind them, keeping his palm pressed against the surface. “Don’t say it.”

“Say what? I told you so?” My snort echoed in the room.

Whatever the hell was going on had unnerved the commander, something I never thought I’d see.

“I’m sorry for the way you were treated.”

“You want to explain this, Gray? I mean from where I’m standing, it seems as if you sold me out, using my skills to capture someone who should have never been involved. As you know, Commander, I don’t like being used by anyone.”

“That’s not what happened. I trust you and knew you were the only man who could possibly save Ms. Douglas’ life. Nothing I said was a lie. Her parents contacted me.”

“How did they find out she was in danger?”

He closed his eyes. “By a visit from the agent. They were questioned about her involvement because of her earlier article.”

“How do you know them?”

His eyes narrowed. “You suddenly don’t trust me?”

“I don’t trust anyone, Gray. You should know that.”

“Fine,” he huffed. “My wife was best friends with Charmaine’s mother.

The three of them grew up in a small town in Illinois.

Mr. and Mrs. Porter attended our wedding.

Her dad called me also telling me about Agent Wilshire.

I subsequently contacted him to find out what the hell was going on.

At a point, I made a suggestion you were the right person to get her out. ”

“Porter? Different from Charmaine’s last name.”

“She’s still using her husband’s last name. She’s been through some shit in the last few years.”

The man wasn’t lying about how he knew them. I nodded a couple of times before rubbing my eyes. “Let me guess. The FBI had no intention of finding a way to bring her to safety otherwise. Right?”

By the fact he looked away, I had my answer. “They had no official jurisdiction and DEA were none too eager to provide assistance.”

“When was it determined she might have valuable information?”

“From what I was told, they hacked her phone and found a text from an unknown source. Honestly? I think they took a stab in the dark as to what the unknown source wanted to discuss with her.”

Well, fucking great. She’d been on the radar since she’d written the article. “That’s against the law, Gray.”

“Don’t get me started.”

I allowed a moment of silence to settle between us. “Do they really believe there’s a traitor inside the government or maybe the military?”

He glanced toward the door. “That’s a level of clearance I don’t have at this point, but that’s the way it seems. Illegal drugs are still big business.

With various congressional outcries to eliminate every possibility of dealers crossing our borders, hints of corruption have been rampant. Unproven, but increasing.”

“So Alfaro could be working directly with someone.”

“Exactly. With Charmaine putting the heat on the man, the subject will be hot news once again.”

“Someone lured her down there, Gray. She doesn’t know who. There’s a possibility it’s someone wanting to shed light on a coverup.”

“If I had to guess, I’d say yes. But you didn’t hear that from me. I don’t need to tell you this, Maddox, but Alfaro is a bad man capable of performing heinous deeds. He will not allow anyone to get in his way, including the people who think the man will help them pad their bank accounts.”

“Understood. I knew that going in, but I did as you asked. As a goddamn favor. It wasn’t about the money.”