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Tristan

“ Y ou look like shit.”

It didn’t seem like Beau’s words required an answer, so Tristan didn’t give him one. It was bad enough that Beau had pulled him into one of the meeting rooms, he didn’t want to piss the man off further.

He squared his shoulders and stood to attention, waiting.

“You went against a direct order, Tristan. I had no idea if you were okay, or if something had happened—if I needed to send another team after your stupid ass.” Beau let out a long breath. “If something like this ever happens again, you won’t have a job. This isn’t just your life on the line. It’s the lives of your team.”

It was the longest speech he’d ever heard Beau make, and it hurt. Because Beau was right. His teammates would never have left him up there. By ignoring orders, he’d put them all at risk. He’d thought only of Lena. Of finding Lena. He’d thought he was capable of staying objective, but he’d been lying to himself.

Tristan forced himself to stare straight ahead, but inside he burned with embarrassment. He could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him—the exhaustion still clinging to his muscles, the adrenaline crash making his head pound, the shame curling low in his gut. And still, he couldn’t regret anything that happened, because Lena was safe . But the way he’d gone about it had endangered all of their lives.

“You’re right, Commandant . I’m sorry,” he finally said.

Beau’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Are you?”

“Yes, sir,” he said, forcing the words out.

Beau studied him, his sharp gaze unwavering. “Then answer me this. What’s going on with you and Madeleine Pelegrin?”

Tristan’s gaze flickered—just for a second—before he forced himself to look straight ahead.

Beau’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Don’t even think of lying to me.”

Tristan exhaled sharply, lowering his gaze to the ground. “It’s… complicated.”

Beau sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Complicated,” he repeated, his voice flat.

Tristan winced.

Beau let out a long sigh, rubbing his hand over his face. “Jesus Christ, Tristan.”

Silence stretched between them.

“I didn’t know her last name, and I certainly didn’t know who her father was, Beau. I didn’t even know the colonel had a child. We met in town and went on one date together, and … I like her, okay?”

“You like her?” Beau sounded like a man struggling for patience. “You’d better know what you’re doing, Tristan. This is the colonel’s only daughter we’re talking about.”

“I didn’t know who she was,” Tristan repeated stubbornly. “But she’s a grown woman, Beau. She can make her own decisions.”

“Tell that to the colonel.”

“Have you spoken to him?”

“Early this morning. He sends his gratitude to the whole team. He also asked if you wouldn’t mind picking up his daughter at the hospital at eleven and taking her home, since he had to go to Paris for an urgent meeting.”

Tristan blinked. “Me?”

“It appears Madeleine trusts you,” Beau said. Then he paused. “I didn’t say anything to the colonel about the fact that you knew each other. Please don’t make me regret this.”

Tristan hesitated. “You’re not pulling me from the field?”

Beau’s gaze sharpened again. “That depends.”

“On what?”

Beau sighed. “On whether you can figure out how to do your job without losing your goddamn head next time.”

Tristan nodded, his throat tight. “It won’t happen again.”

Beau waved a hand toward the door. “Get out of here before I change my mind.”

Tristan didn’t need to be told twice, but there was one more thing he had to do. He had to apologize to his teammates. “Is the rest of the team here?” Tristan asked. He knew nobody would have gotten much sleep the night before.

Beau looked around unhappily. “Yeah, about that … Hugo and Lorenz went back out with Vincent to secure the scene until the forensic pathologists arrive.”

Tristan swallowed. He’d completely forgotten about the skeleton. “Any idea who it could be?”

Beau shook his head. “Vincent’s team is looking into the archives but, so far, no luck.”

“Lena took some photographs, in case it helps with the identification.”

“I’ll let Vincent know.” Beau ran a hand through his hair. “Now get out of here.”

As he stepped out of the meeting room, the tension coiled inside Tristan’s body finally began to dissolve. He had a lot to think about, but the only thing he could focus on—the only thing that mattered right now … was getting back to Lena.