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Diego had never seen so many generals gathered in one place. They wore their uniforms with stars and medals, looking as if each was trying to outdo the others. The meeting had been set up in Maryland, close to the compound where General Chariot, the commanding officer, oversaw the laboratory where the experiments were done.

The GhostWalkers had counted on General Pillar giving himself the advantage. The moment the venue for the meeting was chosen, they moved to secure Chariot’s home, knowing little Grace was being held there. Guards were surrounding the home. The estate was behind locked gates. They had plenty of time to study the guards’ movements as well as the position of all security cameras. Joe was certain Pillar had already made up his mind to hold Grace back in order to force Leila’s compliance.

There had been several meetings with Logan Maxwell, leader of GhostWalker Team Two. He was a brilliant lawyer, had worked for NCIS and had a reputation in the military as a man who won his cases. Like all the GhostWalkers, Logan was enhanced, and Diego suspected his psychic gifts were a good part of the lawyer’s success, along with his intelligence and knowledge of the law.

Frank Henderson had recently been promoted to vice admiral. He had been overseeing Team Two since that GhostWalker team had been formed. He was a rear admiral at the time, and he’d never relinquished his leadership over the team. They trusted him, and when he walked in with Logan, he did so with great authority.

General Theodore “Ted” Ranier oversaw Team One. He had been looking out for the first team of GhostWalkers since they had broken out of Whitney’s lab after several had already succumbed to the experiments he was doing on them. With him was Ryland Miller, the commanding officer leading the team. Team One had the most problems, but Miller was married to Whitney’s daughter, and she worked hard at helping the GhostWalkers overcome the lack of filters in their brains and other debilitating problems.

The two men entered the large meeting room together, exuding the same confidence Vice Admiral Henderson had. Technically, Ranier outranked General Pillar. Pillar eyed him with wariness but made no comment as the men took their seats at the large conference table.

Theodore Griffen was a phenomenon in the Marine Corps. He attributed his fast movement up the ranks to sergeant major of the Marine Corps in a few short years to his handling of GhostWalker Team Three. He was senior listed adviser to the commandant of Marines. He had worked tirelessly in Washington with the president and was extremely skilled in planning covert operations. His name and reputation were very well-known—especially the fact that he didn’t back down when he believed he was in the right. And he always fought for his GhostWalkers. With him entering the meeting was Mack McKinley, the commanding officer leading Team Three. They were very skilled in urban warfare. McKinley had a reputation, along with Sergeant Major Griffen, for getting the job done no matter the odds.

Diego and Leila entered with Joe, Ezekiel, Rubin and Major General Tennessee Milton. Milton had been in charge of their team since it was formed. The Pararescue Team had originally been kept secret even from the other teams, but Major General Milton didn’t believe they were safer completely alone, without backup. The GhostWalker teams had too many enemies. Milton wanted all the teams to be united. More than once, in the worst of times, he had come through for Team Four.

Leila was seated beside Logan, with Diego on the other side of her. Deliberately, when they walked in, Diego held her hand. Pillar scowled as if they were doing something wrong. Aside from showing they were a couple, Diego was making a point that Leila wasn’t in the military. She wasn’t under anyone’s command and could show public affection even in a military setting. He was making a blatant statement.

Chairs scraped as they were pulled out and everyone was seated. Pillar took up a position at the head of the table, with Chariot on his right.

“I believe we have a problem, gentlemen,” Pillar greeted.

“I believe you’re correct,” Logan answered.

Pillar scowled at him, staring, his shaggy brows drawn together. It was clear to Diego that Pillar was doing his best to intimidate Logan. That wasn’t going to happen. Logan returned his gaze steadily.

“Leila Fenton belongs here with us, and she must return,” Pillar stated.

“Leila Fenton and her sister, Bridget, were supposed to have been given to Luther Gunthrie on the death of their parents. He was never told that he was to take guardianship of them, nor was he told their parents were deceased,” Logan said. “Perhaps you were unaware of this detail, sir, but it was illegal for anyone to ignore the wishes of the parents and kidnap these two young girls. Someone made the decision. The moment they did, they put the entire program here in Maryland in jeopardy. Kidnapping young girls, giving one of them to Dr. Whitney, a known madman, was illegal as hell, not to mention immoral. If this information were to get out to the public, that our military kidnapped young girls and forced them into a program that potentially could harm them without any compensation whatsoever, without any guardian looking out for their well-being, the repercussions to our military and our country would be enormous.”

Pillar’s face reddened with anger. “This is a classified program. Anyone discussing it would be held accountable, thrown into the brig, and would never see the light of day again.” His voice was harsh with authority.

Logan raised an eyebrow. “Leila has every right to discuss her and her sister’s position with the press and anyone else she would like. She isn’t in the military. She never signed up for the program that she was put into as a child. She had no say in what happened to her. Neither did Bridget. As citizens of the United States, they have every right to bring a lawsuit against the government and the people who perpetrated this horrifying abduction and experiments on these girls. They were children with no one to protect them.”

There was a short silence while Pillar consulted with Chariot, who shook his head several times. Pillar shuffled through paperwork and then turned his glare on Diego.

“There is evidence that several of our soldiers were murdered by a member of GhostWalker Team Four. I believe that GhostWalker is under your command, Major General.” It was an accusation and a promise of retaliation if Leila didn’t return to the fold.

Diego tightened his fingers around Leila’s and pressed their joined hands against his thigh beneath the table to give her courage.

What if they arrest you?

They won’t. We knew he would play this card. Don’t respond, and don’t look at all as if you’re bothered by the accusations he’s making , he cautioned.

Leila looked up at him, her face soft, her eyes loving. She looked devoted to him. His heart contracted. The woman was amazing. She was scared out of her mind, both for Grace and for him, yet she managed to look calm as well as loving toward him.

“Murdered? With all due respect, sir, ‘murder’ is a word to be careful throwing around. Diego Campos saved the life of a woman your soldiers were attempting to rape while she was dying of bullet wounds they inflicted. There is recorded evidence of this fact. The flaws in these men you continue to enhance are apparent. Worse, you know of the problems and still allow them to go out into the world as potential threats to the civilian population.” Logan was relentless.

“Be very careful you aren’t court-martialed,” Pillar warned.

General Ranier responded before Logan could. “You had better be careful, Bradley,” he interrupted, calling the general by his first name. “Don’t threaten my men when they are recounting events that can be proven. You’re in the wrong, and you know you are. Diego Campos saved this woman’s life when your soldiers would have taken it in a violent and brutal way.”

“I deserve to be treated with respect,” Pillar snapped.

“You are being given the utmost respect,” General Ranier pointed out. “You aren’t in a court of law; you’re here in this room, where we’re talking this out. No charges have been filed against you or Chariot on Miss Fenton’s behalf. We’re here, attempting to make things right.”

“Charges?” Pillar sputtered. “What the hell, Ted? No one can bring charges against me. I’m doing my job.”

“Sir, with all due respect,” Logan said, “your job wasn’t to give an order to kidnap two young girls, give one to a man we all know is insane and enhance the other the way you do soldiers, grown men, who volunteer.”

Diego nearly smirked. It took effort to keep his expression blank. Logan was implacable. He wasn’t going to stop attacking, because it was clear to everyone in the room that Pillar wasn’t going to relent and allow Leila to leave without a fight.

It makes no sense when he knows he’s in the wrong. Diego sent the message not only to Leila but to all his fellow GhostWalkers. It was important that she saw that advantage. They could communicate with one another, all of them, without anyone else knowing. What does he think he’s going to get out of this?

His ego is involved for sure , Ezekiel replied. He has a reputation for insisting he’s always right.

If that’s so , Ryland said, how is it he’s in command? How did he make general?

Logan answered. He’s arrogant, yes, but he gets the job done. He has friends in high places, but he earned where he is. He’s a brilliant strategist. You can’t underestimate him. We’ve got a couple of people researching him now. They’ll feed us any pertinent information we need. I do know he’s a patriot through and through.

“Respect.” Pillar spat the word. “Ted, do you even hear what that upstart is saying to me? Who does he think he is? He isn’t speaking to me with respect. Far from it. Put a muzzle on him or we’re done here.”

Diego thought over what Logan had said about the general. The man hadn’t gotten where he was by being arrogant and overbearing—and stupid. The general wasn’t stupid. He was deliberately coming off that way.

He’s trying to provoke a response. But from whom? Diego mused.

He accused you of murder, Diego , Rubin said. No general sends out soldiers they know are flawed in dominant and aggressive ways and then calls those dealing with them a murderer. He’s misdirecting.

Rubin was most likely right.

Keep him engaged for a few minutes, Logan , Diego said. Let me give this some thought.

No problem. I’m in my element. There was a note of amusement in Logan’s voice. He could argue with a deity and win. He always claimed the practice was good for him. His fellow teammates deemed it impossible for him to find a woman willing to put up with his ability to debate anyone, anytime. Diego was thankful for that trait in him though. It gave them all the time needed to puzzle out what the general was up to.

Diego tuned out the arguing going back and forth between the general and Logan. He felt Rubin moving in his mind. Then Ezekiel. They were used to discussing strategy and passing information back and forth. Ezekiel was a strong telepath and often aided others in their unit who weren’t quite as strong. Ezekiel brought in the others so they all could contribute to the discussion.

If the general is deflecting, it’s because he doesn’t want to answer specific questions. Like why he would take two young girls and force them into a program for soldiers , Diego pointed out. Why would he give one of the girls to Whitney?

Information coming in now , Ezekiel said. Jesse Calhoun from Team Two has been gathering data on the general. According to what he’s found, Bradley Pillar goes way back with Whitney, far before Whitney was ever accused of the crimes against the orphan girls he bought to experiment on.

That shouldn’t be a little shocking , Rubin said, but it is. I find it crazy that a man like the general, who has spent an entire career standing for his soldiers, would be associated with Whitney.

Diego considered the repercussions of backing Whitney and the reasons why a patriotic man who had dedicated his life to serving his country would associate with Whitney. He posed the question to the others.

Ryland was leader of the first team. When the men had begun to have problems, Whitney put them in cages, and some were mysteriously killed. Whitney claimed another man was responsible, but when the team members broke out of the cages, with the help of Whitney’s daughter, it was discovered that the scientist had been experimenting on young female orphans before he ever tried his experiments on soldiers.

Whitney considers himself a patriot , Ryland explained. He has that in common with General Pillar. Leila was taken when she was ten. It hadn’t yet come out that Whitney was doing illegal experiments with children.

But Pillar took my sister and me. He gave Bridget to Whitney , Leila protested. He had to have known even then what Whitney was doing.

She has a point , Diego agreed. Pillar wouldn’t have given Bridget to Whitney if he was unaware of what Whitney was doing.

Logan fell silent, allowing the general to talk sternly to the room while he digested the revelation that Pillar had to have known what Whitney was doing all these years. The fact that he sent his soldiers after Leila, knowing they were flawed, spoke volumes. He didn’t want Whitney’s experiments or his culpable actions to come to light.

Logan cleared his throat. “Sir, I think it’s necessary to cut through the bullshit. We need to focus on the real reason we’re here. We aren’t going away. Leila is prepared to go to the press and expose the experiments you’ve done here and the ones you conspired to aid Whitney with.”

Pillar turned bright red, sputtering with anger. “You can’t possibly condone such a thing. Every one of these soldiers and the GhostWalkers are classified. So is Leila.”

“Again, I reiterate, Leila is not in the military. She never signed up for any of this. She was abducted along with her sister,” Logan insisted.

“Ted, these threats are outrageous. Your GhostWalker teams cannot be made public.” His fierce gaze swept the room, taking them in. “Do you have any idea the prejudice people would have if they found out you have animal DNA in you? Reptilian? Snake? You would be hunted to the ends of the earth. Every foreign country would want a piece of you. If you think you could keep your identities secret, with the kind of scrutiny you would be under, you’re wrong and you would be found.”

“And are our lives more important than Leila’s and Bridget’s?” Logan asked, his tone very low. Those who knew Logan knew that when he spoke in that particular tone, it was never a good thing. He was about to go in for the kill.

Diego admired the way he led the general right into the noose. It was the old adage of “give the man enough rope.”

“Yes,” General Pillar thundered. He smashed his fist on the table. “Absolutely, without a doubt, the answer is yes. I’ve had a career of sending soldiers into combat situations. Do you know how many men I’ve lost? Do you know how many died in the First World War? Over a hundred thousand. Do you know how many were wounded? Over two hundred thousand. What if we could have prevented those deaths? What if we could have saved those lives and kept two hundred thousand men from having their lives torn apart due to terrible wounds?”

“I understand what you’re saying, sir—” Logan began.

The general cut him off. “In the Second World War, we lost over four hundred thousand men, and over six hundred thousand more were wounded. The losses were pure insanity. If you can prevent such a terrible thing, why wouldn’t you?”

“I agree one hundred percent with you that we should try to find ways to prevent a repeat of history. Everyone in this room agrees with you,” Logan said. “But we’re soldiers. We volunteered with the idea that we could save lives. But it isn’t right to take young girls and experiment on them. To make their lives a living hell.”

The general snorted his derision. “Leila Fenton’s life was not a living hell. She was afforded every courtesy and every advantage the soldiers had. More so. She was treated with respect. When she got herself pregnant, her child was accepted and cared for.”

“?‘Got herself pregnant’?” Diego nearly came out of his chair. Fortunately, from early childhood, he had trained himself to speak in a low, calm voice. He took a deep breath when Joe turned his penetrating gaze on him. He made every effort to keep anger out of his tone. “Leila didn’t get herself pregnant. She was raped by one of your soldiers.”

Diego turned his attention to Chariot. “I believe it was documented.”

“That is correct,” Chariot said immediately. He avoided Pillar’s gaze. “There was evidence, including video and witnesses, those looking at the security tapes as it was happening.”

By the deep scowl he wore, the general was clearly trying to intimidate Chariot into either staying silent or lying. Diego respected Chariot for telling the truth. If the general later decided to retaliate, it could be Chariot’s career, yet the man refused to give in to the warning.

Before the general could respond, Ranier did. “Let’s not get off topic here, Diego. I would very much like to hear what the general has to say. There is no question that he has dedicated his life to our country and our soldiers. Many times, when we thought soldiers lost, he was the one to bring them home safely. I, for one, want to know his opinion and his reasoning.”

Diego heard the respect in the voice. General Pillar had to hear it as well. The difference was that most of the GhostWalkers in the room had certain talents. Every human being gave off energy, and GhostWalkers were adept at reading that energy. Many of them had been genetically and psychically altered years earlier, giving them time to cope with the changes as well as be able to develop and use their talents. Reading energy allowed them to see true intent and to know if someone was lying to them.

General Ranier had respect for General Pillar, but like the GhostWalkers in the room, he didn’t believe one sacrificed civilians, especially children. He didn’t believe one took children and experimented on them. Those beliefs were very strong in him. He might sound as if he wanted to hear Pillar’s opinions because he was leaning toward agreeing with the man, but General Ranier was far from agreeing. He felt very strongly that children and civilians should be protected.

The general had seen the results on his soldiers after they were enhanced. He had seen brain bleeds and the fight to maintain a code when their bodies turned against them, causing them to be aggressive and far too dominant. He had read report after report, studied the video evidence of them going into battles or carrying out a covert mission. He also dedicated his life in service to his country and his soldiers.

He believed in the GhostWalker premise, enhancing soldiers to save lives. He believed the strongest and finest should be chosen, and he’d helped implement the psychological studies given to the men before acceptance into the program. Nowhere had there been a reference to first experimenting on children.

Diego—and his fellow GhostWalkers—could feel the escalating anger in the general, but he appeared to be very interested, relaxed and confident. In no way did he betray his true emotions.

“Please continue, Bradley,” General Ranier encouraged. “I think everyone in this room needs to hear what you have to say.”

Pillar nodded. “What none of you seem to understand is that there is a price tag for everything in the military. A price tag for our computers, our paper products—you name it, it has to be paid for, right down to the most mundane thing possible. How are these things paid for? Quite simply put, gentlemen, they are paid for with our men’s lives. Our soldiers. Our bravest men. I have had to send so many men to their deaths when it all could have been prevented.”

Diego did his best to listen with an open mind, if for no other reason than to try to understand Pillar and his way of thinking. There was no possible way to agree with him, but it was worth listening to him in order to figure out how a man as intelligent as Pillar would find a way to justify the experiments on children. Not just any experiments—many of them were totally horrific, such as introducing cancer over and over to the child and operating without anesthesia, as well as so many other heinous and unconscionable practices.

Leila pressed her fingers deeper into his thigh, drawing his attention. She leaned closer to him, her gaze sweeping over his face, feature by feature, as if assessing his condition. The floor is trembling. Is that you?

That would be Rubin. My calm, reliable brother. Everyone will think it’s me because Rubin always has it together. He very rarely loses control, but when he does, it is complete devastation. He included Rubin so his brother would hear the amusement in his voice and feel it in his mind. It always made him laugh when his brother turned hothead.

Poor Jonquille learned the hard way that Mr. Calm, Cool and Collected isn’t any of those things and her brother-in-law with the badass rep is.

Rubin gave a snort of derision, but the floor ceased the mild movement and amusement immediately filled Diego’s mind. Don’t let him fool you, Leila. He’s furious with Pillar. I think he’d take out a gun and shoot him if he thought he’d get away with it. The reason I have such a foul temper is because my brother feeds me his anger and I have to get rid of it for the two of us.

Leila stifled a giggle against Diego’s arm.

That’s the first time he’s ever told that whopper , Diego told her. It’s a good thing he can direct lightning, otherwise it would strike him in the head for that lie.

Can you really direct a lightning strike? Leila sounded awed.

Diego squeezed her hand and pressed it harder into his thigh. He loved that she was seeing a small part of his brother—how truly powerful he was. He wanted Leila to see Rubin the way he did.

He turned his attention to Pillar, trying to understand the man and how he believed.

“The soldiers in this room”—Pillar paused and looked around the room, including Diego, Rubin and Ezekiel in his slow, thorough perusal—“all volunteered for a program they believed in. That program had been in the works for years. Whitney believes in saving lives just as I do. We met many times to discuss how best to protect our soldiers and the young men of the nation.”

“And women,” Logan interrupted.

“What did you say?” Pillar demanded.

“And women.” Logan raised his voice. “There are women in our military, and one would presume when you were speaking with Whitney about protecting the male soldiers, you would include the female soldiers as well.”

Logan used just the right note of sarcasm to provoke Pillar. Before Pillar could speak, General Ranier did. “Logan, please stop interrupting.”

Logan raised an eyebrow, turning toward the general. “Really, sir? You didn’t think the women should be included? I feel it’s a very pertinent point that they weren’t included, considering that Whitney was already experimenting on female children. We know he acquired these girls as infants and toddlers.”

“They were unwanted ,” Pillar burst out. “Throwaways. Their own families got rid of them. Whitney gave them a purpose. He fed and clothed them. He provided an education for them. These girls had more training and education than most females in this country have ever gotten,” he defended. “Let’s circle back to the real problem. The needless death of soldiers. We knew, thanks to Luther Gunthrie, that one soldier of his caliber could be worth a battalion. He, alone, saved many lives and continued to do so throughout the years.”

Diego knew that was very true. He knew Luther, and the man was nearly unstoppable.

“Once it was established that a genetically altered soldier could be sent out with specific orders to take out the enemy without being seen, we knew we had to create more. We were excited.”

“We?” Ranier prompted. “You and Whitney?”

“There were others. The idea was taken to the vice president and two senators. We kept the circle small. I had asked permission to share with Whitney. He was our top go-to man and got things done. There is no doubt of his patriotism. Once he knew about Luther, he immediately went to work figuring out how to improve on our odds of creating a supersoldier. Too many hadn’t measured up, and we couldn’t figure out why. Whitney spent several years developing a protocol for the two laboratories to follow. While there have been things that have gone wrong, and I’ll admit that, having Luther and all of the GhostWalkers proving we save soldier’s lives every time they are sent out on a mission balances the negative.”

“When did you realize Whitney was experimenting on young girls?” Logan asked.

Pillar threw his arms into the air and then slammed his fist on the table again. “You refuse to hear a word I say.”

“I hear you,” Logan said. “Are you aware Whitney gave some of these girls cancer repeatedly? That he operated without anesthesia several times on the same little girl, causing her heart to stop numerous times? Were you aware that he removed filters from their brains so they are unable to function properly because they can’t drown out the noises around them? Did you condone his practices when you gave a little girl to him? Bridget Fenton, a child who should have gone to the very soldier you claim has saved multiple lives. Instead of Luther getting custody of his nieces, you made certain he knew nothing about them, and you experimented on them. Had he known, Luther would have come after you. You know that, or you would have consulted with him.”

Again, Pillar waved Logan’s accusations away. “Luther Gunthrie had no contact with his family whatsoever. He knew nothing of the girls. They would have been a burden to him.”

“You mean he might not have gone at the drop of a hat to do your bidding if he had two little girls—girls grieving for their parents—to look after.”

Pillar’s features hardened. “Kids get over death much faster than you think. In any case, I am telling you that Leila Fenton was trained as a soldier. She will face charges if she doesn’t return.”

“You can charge her with anything you want to make up, sir,” Logan said, “but the bottom line is Leila isn’t in the military. You need to give the order to bring her daughter here so we can take the child with us when we leave.”

“Leila Fenton abandoned her daughter. She’s been gone several weeks. The child is in protective custody. The last thing we’re going to do is hand her over to a mother who leaves her to spend time with a man and then shows up when she feels like it to reclaim her.”

Diego pressed Leila’s clenched fist to his chest, right over his heart. Joe, now would be a good time to give the order to get the baby. We’ll want to know the moment she’s clear and safe. He included all the GhostWalkers in the telepathic communication.

I did the moment the windbag proclaimed that Leila was going to be charged. The team has begun Operation Night-Night. They’ll inform me the moment all guards are asleep and they can move on the house safely without bloodshed.

Marcy, Chariot’s wife, has been my friend , Leila hastily told the others. She might try to protect Grace. Please don’t hurt her.

Diego felt her anxiety. It wasn’t for herself. She’d heard the threats Pillar made, the accusations and the remarks designed to make everyone think Leila was a negligent mother. With all of that, her thought was for the commander’s wife.

“Out of curiosity, do you condone the breeding program Whitney has devised for the women he continues to hold prisoner?” Logan asked. “Is there justification for that program?” His tone had gone mild once more, a soft, compelling inquiry that invited a real answer.

Gifts. Psychic gifts that had been developed until they were razor-sharp. Pillar talked about the soldiers saving lives, but he didn’t understand how powerful they were. The program he oversaw dealt only with physical genetics. He had no understanding of what someone with enhanced psychic abilities could really do.

“Obviously, Dr. Whitney is a brilliant man. He’s a genius beyond compare. I fear, with all of his success, the constant pressure to produce more, and the continual persecution he faces every day despite his contributions, Whitney’s mental state may have deteriorated. He has so many enemies. He oversees several labs, and twice now the men he trusted violated that trust and tried to build their own army for their own gain. A woman he trusted sold out the program to a monster. He’s under tremendous pressure, and yet he continues to find ways to aid our soldiers.”

“He’s sacrificing children, and now he’s forcing women into cages where men rape them in order to produce the babies he wants,” Logan said. “You know that is true. I can’t imagine that you’re not keeping your eye on him.”

For the first time, Pillar looked disconcerted, the lines in his face deep. “I tried to talk to him, but he’s become extremely reclusive. He believes he has a massive target on him, and he’s not wrong. He moves around all the time, which makes it more difficult for him to continue with his brilliant work. That frustrates him and adds to his paranoia.”

“Knowing what he’s doing, you still aided him in getting Bridget back,” Joe said. “You sent her back knowing her fate.”

Pillar’s head went up. A muscle jerked in his jaw. “The woman has problems, and he needed to ensure she was looked after properly.”

Leila’s breath hissed out in a slow show of pure anger. “The reason my sister has problems is because that man experimented on her and removed the filters from her brain. He created the problem.”

“And he’s doing his best to rectify it. Who else will be able to help her?” Pillar demanded. “I suggest that you stop your drama and return to your unit.”

Operation Night-Night is a success. Package safe and secure.

The absent members of Diego’s GhostWalker team checked in, allowing those confronting General Pillar to carry out their mission.

“Leila will be going with us,” Joe said. “So will Grace. There will be no charges brought against her or any GhostWalker. When you choose to create soldiers such as those of us in this room, men and women with altered DNA and enhanced psychic gifts, you are risking far more than you know. We are patriots. We joined the service and volunteered to be enhanced. We worked at learning to control the DNA in us and strengthen our abilities so we could better serve. Again, we are patriots, but we have a strict code we live by. That code is one of honor, and we take it very seriously. We believe in protecting those who can’t protect themselves. We don’t condone or allow men to rape women or experiment on children or adults. We weren’t created for those purposes. We were created to ensure it doesn’t happen. We’re sent into the field to stop atrocities. We certainly aren’t going to condone them here in our own country.”

Pillar looked around the room. “Are you threatening me? Because it sounded very much like you were.”

“We are ghosts, General. We can walk unseen through walls. You watched us come into this room, and you believe your eyes. You believe that those seated at the table with you are the only ones here. I’m telling you that you’re wrong. There are GhostWalkers unseen in this room. Every soldier you brought with you that you ordered concealed has been incapacitated. Your men aren’t lying there with rifles aimed at our heads. My men are aiming at yours.”

Pillar sent a wild look around the room and then, tellingly, looked up toward the ceiling and across toward the upper-story mezzanine. “Ted?” He appealed to General Ranier.

Joe continued relentlessly. “Grace has been recovered and will go with us. Leila will go with us. In return, she won’t go to the press, and we won’t make public the experiments being carried out by our government. And you won’t receive a visit in the middle of the night. You can retire with your career and reputation intact.”

“You can’t do this. You’re a soldier, and I order you to stand down. To turn Leila Fenton over to me.”

“You cannot give me orders, General,” Joe stated. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re a disgrace to your uniform. You condone the kinds of horrific experiments that the United States condemned in other countries. You’ve stated in no uncertain terms that you believe it is perfectly reasonable for children to be experimented on. Logan recounted a small number of the atrocities your friend Whitney carried out, and you stated those were necessary. It is on record, but I can assure you that record won’t see the light of day. Resign. Do it immediately. We’re done here.”

For the first time, Chariot stood. “My wife? She was with Gracie.”

“Your wife is perfectly fine. We don’t make a habit of going after innocents. If you have any influence over General Pillar, now would be a good time to use it.”

“Bradley,” General Ranier said. “Resign. These men are lethal, and you don’t ever want to be in their sights. You’re getting off easy.”

Pillar sagged. Sat down.

He realizes he helped create us, and he doesn’t stand a chance against us. He got what he wished for, he just didn’t realize he would suffer the consequences , Diego told Leila as they stood to leave.