Chapter 12
Xavier
Blood is still leaching out of my shoulder as the medic gets to work. I’m a little lightheaded as Julie stalks around, intermittently stepping inside the office to give orders to the federal agents now swarming around.
As soon as my wound is dressed and the medic announces I need surgery, Julie is at my side scowling at me. “I’ll speak to you later.”
Since I’d rather not wait for a dressing down, I wave the medic away. “Were there any civilian casualties?”
She shakes her head. “Negative. The entire security team was involved just like Gerald said.”
I wince as I think about the inactive Marine I shot at the elevator. “I’d hoped I was wrong about Kyle.”
She nods slowly. “He’s in debt up to his eyeballs. His wife left him, and he’s been actively slamming Foreign Policy on social media for a year now.”
It doesn’t make it any easier. I still killed men who should have been on the same side as me.
I slump against the wall as I try to stop the room from spinning. “What happens to Carrie? Her family are still here.”
Julie’s voice starts to fade in and out and I know I need to get to the hospital. “The usual. She’ll sign a non-disclosure and all the guests will be fed the same story about a bomb scare.”
I hear the slur to my voice. “And Cobra?”
“We have a tentative green light for further deep-cover counterterrorism ops. The keyword being tentative. We’re still on a case by case basis.”
“Hmmm. Great. That’s great,” I mumble.
I could be losing it completely, but I’m sure I see a ghost of a smile appear on her lips. “Of course, with that wound, you’ll be taking some R&R before your next assignment.”
My eyebrows rise, as her face returns to neutral. “I’m not a completely heartless bitch Reid. But I’m beginning to think maybe you aren’t the most suitable candidate for Project Cobra.”
I know she’s giving me an out. A permanent out.
When I don’t say anything she releases a sigh. “You nearly blew this entire op because of a woman who may or may not be involved. That doesn’t fill me with confidence.”
I force the words out. “She’s not involved. My methods were—”
She finishes my sentence for me. “Unconventional. And that’s why you were here. No one else could have pulled that off. The question isn’t whether you can do the job, the question is now, whether you want to.”
As if that wasn’t enough, she lands a parting blow. “Until this is wrapped up, you’ll be taking a forced leave of absence. During that time I would suggest you carefully consider what happened here.”
She turns on her heel and leaves me wondering what has happened to me.
Six months ago, I was content with my solitary existence and convinced I was following the path I was meant to be on.
One curvy chef, one incredible night and I’m not only questioning my career choices, but I’m also questioning everything.
As a stretcher appears, I have no choice but to let them carry me out to the waiting helicopter.
Any further thoughts on Carrie or my future will have to wait until I’m back on my feet again.
***
Carrie
When the woman walks through the door without knocking, I get to my feet. “Is Xavier okay?”
She’s holding a piece of officious looking paper in her hand. “He needs surgery. And from this point onwards any information about Xavier Reid will be considered classified information.”
She hands me the paper. “This is a non-disclosure statement. You will not discuss anything that you saw with anyone. Your email, social media and phone will be monitored. Breach the statement and you will be detained without council. Do you understand?”
I can’t speak past the indignation I’m feeling. “That’s illegal,” I splutter.
She just eyes me coolly. “I don’t have time to debate the issue. I have the authority to detain you under the Patriot Act. Considering your name was found on a list on Hadi’s personal computer, you are incredibly fortunate.”
I suck in a breath as heat blazes over my skin. “He offered me a job. As a Chef. He said he was going to leave—”
But she’s not interested in anything I have to say. It’s plain she dislikes me intensely and I’m in no position to argue my innocence.
“What happens now?” I manage.
Her eyes narrow. “Since I’ve already explained about the ongoing surveillance, I assume you mean between you and Xavier Reid?”
I almost afraid to speak so I just give her a shaky nod.
She rises to her feet. “Sign the non-disclosure agreement and you can go back to your life and forget this weekend happened.”
Do I want to forget? I swallow and think of what Xavier did to get me to safety, not to mention the things he did when we were still just two horny strangers.
Considering how painful my arm is, and what has happened, I’m not sure why I even say it, but the words seem to escape before I can stop them.
“And what if I wanted to see him again?”
Her shoulders stiffen. “You’re currently either a witness or a suspect. Either way you’ve compromised Xavier enough. This is a matter of National Security. What you want doesn’t factor into this.”
With that, she walks out of the room leaving me staring at the insignia of Homeland Security.
Compromised him? How could I compromise him? I thought he was a highly trained and incredibly closed off mechanic until an hour ago.
Ridiculous tears form as exhaustion overwhelms me. Xavier is a few floors away, but he may as well be another state away.
Rather than risk imprisonment, I pick up the pen she left, and scrawl my signature on a declaration I can never disclosure anything I saw or experienced today.
Not that I would anyway.
Who the hell would believe me?
