Page 16 of Redeeming Violet (Red Team #3)

Jaxon

Violet and I had no sooner gotten dressed when the perimeter alarm sounded, signaling we had company.

I was surprised when Violet complied without complaint when I told her to go into the closet in the bedroom while I checked the monitors.

If need be, the closet could be used as a safe room, one of the many safety protocols Zane had in place.

It only took a minute to confirm it was Zane driving down the long dirt road back to the barn, but I waited before I told Violet it was safe to come out. I wanted to make sure Zane hadn’t been followed. I knew better, but I’d rather be overly cautious than fuck up and risk Violet’s safety.

Now Violet was sitting at the small table eating her second donut.

Zane had barely dropped the box on the table before she dug in.

She licked the sticky glaze off her lips and I barely suppressed a groan.

My poor undrained cock still throbbed, and I prayed I wouldn’t get a hard-on in front of Zane.

Remembering the way her tits swayed, the way they tasted, the way she’d used my cock to get off, was too much, I had to look away.

There was no way I’d ever scrub those images from my mind. Not that I wanted to.

“What?” I asked Zane when I noticed he was smirking at me.

“Christ.”

“Don’t go there,” I warned. Anything Zane said would only embarrass Violet, and that was the last thing I wanted. “What’d you find?”

He didn’t answer me. Instead, he turned to Violet.

“What can you tell us about Declan?”

“Me? Nothing. I told you I only met him once during his interview,” she answered as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.

“But you read his service file. Do you remember any mission specifics?” Zane asked.

Violet was quiet for a moment before she began.

“His record was spotless. Four years after he joined the Marines he put in his packet for FORECON. Obviously, he passed training. His first platoon was green operations or deep reconnaissance. He was with them four years before he switched to black ops and was with a direct-action platoon and was there for almost four years.”

“I know about his service. I’m asking about his missions. Specifically, any missions to South America,” Zane clarified.

“His platoon specialized in jungle warfare; all of his missions were in South America…” She stopped mid-sentence .

“Right. Now you’re catching on. Think about the briefs you read.”

“Holy shit. Why didn’t I see it? Declan spent eighteen months in Brazil. Before he went dark, he did a light cover assignment for the agency. His investigation also led him to Bolivia and Peru.”

“What was the assignment?” I asked.

“The mission name was redacted, as were all names of the operatives, informants, and suspects. I was blind. Basically, all I got from the report was drugs were being smuggled out of Bolivia using human transport.”

“Jesus,” Zane muttered. “Was the cartel name redacted?”

“Yes. Do you think it was Gomez?” Violet asked.

Knowing her, she was probably rethinking allowing him to live.

Human transport is a nasty way to smuggle drugs.

The person who is being used as a drug mule rarely lived through the experience.

The drugs were put into capsules, wrapped in latex, and either had to be swallowed or the bricks are surgically inserted into the stomach.

If the bag doesn’t break causing an overdose, the removal of the drugs normally did.

Latin America cartels are known for their use of drug mules.

“I doubt it. Gomez is more into the manufacturing and distribution to in-country Capos. The Capos would then distribute out of Bolivia. Gomez isn’t stupid.

He’d rather lose some coin and have less exposure,” Zane explained.

“I’ll have Tex and Garrett work on getting the mission brief without the names redacted. We have a starting point. That’s good.”

“If it will help, I can write down everything I can remember. The Brazil assignment would’ve been a little over two years ago. He was only off that mission a few months before they put him under as long term.”

“And you’re sure there was Spanish being spoken in the background?”

“Yes. I’m not a linguist, so I can’t be sure on the regional dialect. I wouldn’t know the difference between European and Hispanic pronunciation. He could’ve been in Spain for all I know.”

“I’d like you to write down anything you can remember.

Someone did a very good job destroying any record of Declan Crenshaw.

” Zane’s lip twitched, and Violet took the bait and smiled back.

The poor girl had no idea Zane never smiled at anyone unless he was using his good looks to knock them off balance.

I didn’t have to wait long before he delivered the punchline.

“Oh, before I forget. The President has requested a meeting with you this evening. He’s been briefed about your situation and is more than happy to meet with you here.

” Then he turned to me. “You should expect him to helicopter in with Gerald around nine tonight. I brought you a few things I thought you’d need.

Eric will be around later to bring you something for dinner. ”

Son of a bitch that was low. Violet looked like she was regretting eating the two donuts she’d shoveled in.

Zane could’ve explained he had a personal relationship with President Anderson and if the POTUS wanted to come meet with her, it was not because he was going to haul her off; it was because he simply wanted a conversation.

“Have a good day.” Zane winked.

He fucking winked at Violet. Never, not once in all the years I’ve known Zane Lewis, had he ever winked at anyone. What the hell was that? Was he hitting on her?

He laughed when I cut my eyes to him. “Too fucking easy. Jax, don’t forget to check the pack I brought. I think you’ll find just what you need.”

Unless it was some duct tape I could use to shut him up, I didn’t know what he could’ve possibly brought me I didn’t already have.

Zane left a stunned Violet at the table and made his way to the door.

He shook his head and pinned me with a stare.

“Have her ready by nine and we’ll go from there.

She should give him the same speech she did to Abe about the names not being names. He’ll understand that mentality.”

“I won’t coach her what to say to him,” I told Zane. Mainly because I didn’t think she needed me too. If Violet could make me understand why she’d leaked information, she could change President Anderson’s opinion without my help.

“You sure that’s smart?”

I hated that we were talking about Violet as if she wasn’t in the room. Had she not been blindsided with the knowledge President Anderson would be making an appearance, I’m sure she would’ve already voiced her opinion.

“I could bullshit you and tell you I’m not tracking, but I think I am.

And the correct answer is, I will not tell her what to say to Tom Anderson to make him see past her transgressions.

If, and it’s a big if , he grants her clemency, it will be because Violet convinced him.

First, Tom can smell bullshit from five hundred meters out.

If one answer sounds rehearsed, he’ll throw her ass in the hole.

We both know it. Second, Violet needs to know she’s taken responsibility for what she’s done.

She wouldn’t be able to live with herself knowing we got her out of the shit sandwich she’s put herself in.

The Violet I know would rather live in the hole. ”

“Copy that. See you tonight.”

Zane closed the door and I watched on the monitor as he walked up the stairs, out of the building and got into a company-issued SUV. Smug prick would never drive one of his sports cars down a dirt lane.

“Thank you,” Violet said from behind me.

“I told you once, there is nothing to thank me for.”

“I’m scared to meet with the President, but I’m honored to have the chance to look him in the face and explain. If for no other reason than to apologize. I let him down, too.”

Damn, this woman was brave or crazy. The jury was still out.

Fuck, maybe we were both crazy. I understood full well what Zane was trying to tell me.

If I wanted to guarantee Violet was a free woman after this mission was over, I needed to tell her what to say so the President would pardon her.

Or, as it were, let us bury the information we had so no one ever found out she had any involvement.

Tex, Wolf, and the rest of the platoon were the only people outside of us that knew she was the mole.

None of us were worried Tex and the guys would say anything.

But the painful truth was as much as I wanted to protect her I couldn’t.

For both of us, she needed to be honest with Tom.

What kind of man would I be if I put my personal feelings and wants over the security of the nation I’ve vowed to honor, serve, and protect ?

I guess she and I were a lot alike in that regard. We’d both martyr ourselves for what we believed was the greater good. Not that I had any intention of keeping her, but if I had, I’d need to claim her with a clean conscience.

“There’s nothing to be scared of. You’ll be fine. Would you mind putting away the rest of the food Zane brought in the mini-fridge while I take the other bags into the room?”

“Sure.”

I picked up the two new duffels, carried them into the bedroom, and dropped them on the floor.

I unzipped the first one and it was full of extra towels and bathroom supplies.

Jasmin had definitely packed that bag; there was girly shampoo and conditioner.

I’d be surprised if Zane even realized women used such products.