Page 3 of Tainted Gifts
He looks so different than the cocky, cool, confident guy I fell in love with. He looks so prominent and commanding right now. I don’t know how I missed all of this. How did I not see it?
“As most of you have learned, I’m Commander Jason Ericson. I’m sorry for having kept my identity a secret for so long, but I was trying to fight alongside you in this war. Obviously, I’ll have to choose more secure missions to attend because we don’t want to risk the Unaligned capturing me and using me as a token of bargain.
“With that said, I am by no means going to sit on the sidelines. I didn’t take the Commander position to cower behind a well fortified compound. Given the fact our greatest facility just fell, I feel I'll be just as safe in the field. I can assure you you’re in good hands.
“Now, to the matter of Seminole, we have learned something incredibly strong did this. If any of you have been ranked high enough to study the Kellan Maverick file, you’ll see there are similarities. The most common misconception with this case is that people believe Maverick did this. If we had suspected him of being able to demolish cities as we saw them, we would have never let him live. That being said, we did and do believe he has knowledge of who is behind this. Pictures of him were caught near these scenes, and that can’t be a coincidence.
“We are currently tracking him, and we’re hoping we’ll catch a break so we can interrogate him once again.”
They don’t think he did it? I thought that was why he was arrested and sent to Stringham.
“Commander, with all due respect, Kellan Maverick is a threat to our nation just as much as the Unaligned. He should be killed on sight, not interrogated,” a man’s gruff voice interjects.
Jase’s lips tighten as he loosens his tie and leans over the podium to look the man in the eyes.
“I know better than anyone here that Kellan Maverick is a threat. I worked diligently on that case. I also know he didn’t have the capabilities of destroying those cities. We need his Intel, not his blood… at least not until he has given us a trail to follow.”
Damn he’s sexy when he’s assertive.
Jase’s smug grin cocks up while flashing his mesmerizing eyes in my direction, and I almost hold my breath.
Stupid big mouth mind.
“He didn’t crack under interrogation the last time, what makes you think he’ll crack this time?” another man asks.
Jase starts to answer when the doors to the back blow open, and everyone gasps in unison while snapping their necks around to see who the hell just barged in. I get sicker than I already am the second I see the duo stalking down the middle of the aisle on their way to the center of the room.
Oh fuck my life.
“Because this time I’ll be the one to interrogate him,” my mother declares while glaring at Jase like she wants to rip his head off.
Why the hell is she mad at him? She fucking knew his secret.
Jase grips his head, and his eyes flash to me as if he’s trying to silently clue me in on his turmoil. Unfortunately, unlike him, I'm no mind reader.
“Araya, we’ve already been through this. You’re on leave to enjoy the end of your span. You can’t interrogate him even if we do find him,” he exasperates.
Ah. I get it now. He's been arguing with her. That'll give anyone that tormented, agonizing turmoil.
“Commander, I was lead interrogator for longer than you’ve been alive. I dedicated so many years of my life to the United. I believe the United owes me this. Seminole was my late husband’s pride. He changed that facility, and it’s where he left a legacy that shaped the world we live in. The United owes this to him as well.”
Damn she’s good.
Uncle Brazen takes her hand in his, and she leans against him while all eyes stare expectantly at our commander.
“She’s right, Sir. Araya is our strongest gifted hybrid, and she’s owed this. She is by far the best interrogator anyone has ever seen. We owe it to our late commander to do all we can to seek justice,” a hybrid male interjects.
Jase looks to me as if he’s expecting me to tell him what to do. I hate this. The only reason he’s denying her is because he knows she’ll get too close and figure out the truth. Then she’ll go after the scorpions and this thing alone.
She’ll just be more suspicious if you say no, Commander.
He sighs out, and then he turns his attention back to my mother.
“Very well, but given the special circumstances, I expect you to stay behind the walls of the United. You’ll only be interrogating Kellan Maverick, and then you’ll go back on leave. Understood?” he prompts, and she smirks at his ceding.
“Yes, Sir,” she smugly releases, and then she walks over to take a seat toward the front, her eyes averting mine the whole time.
She knows I’m pissed. By now she has heard all about the drama. She also knows why I’ve fucking ignored her numerous calls, texts, and emails. What sort of mother keeps the commander’s secret when he’s dating and lying to her damn daughter?
