Page 105 of Pretend
“Creature…my fucking daughter?!” He gets into my face and snarls in fury. I stand my ground and don’t respond as he yells.
“Out of the entire team, you were the one I didn’t have to fucking worry about!”
I stare at the wall, standing behind him as he continues to shout.
He throws a pile of books off his desk, and they hit the other side of the wall. He breathes hard, and I stay calm.
“You’re married, for Christ’s sake!”
I swallow as he continues to bellow out. His face reddening as he throws the facts in my face.
“I am,” I tell him. My voice is as cold as my heart.
“She’s my little girl!” He throws a glass at the wall, and it shatters.
He goes rigid. He stares at the broken glass and holds his breath like he’s trying to talk his own demons down.
I am married.
I did fuck up.
The Admiral clears his throat and takes in another deep breath. As soon as he is more calm, he speaks.
“The team needs you. Whatever you shared with Alessia is over. I don’t want your name or hers to reach my desk again, Creature.” He rubs his peppered scruff over his chin, deep into his pensive thoughts. He stares outside the window, overlooking an Army formation of soldiers ready to be dismissed for the day.
I nod, and a victorious smile paints my masked face.
“I’m going to suspend you. You will not get special treatment from me.” Ravenmore concedes his outburst and rubs his temples.
“Then do it. Do what you must. I broke orders. I acted unprofessionally, and for that, I am sorry. It’s not like me. I always place the mission first. I promise it won’t happen again.” I stand my ground, placing my hands behind my back, and get lost in the memories.
Stalking her for work, stabbing Frankie for her, putting my own job at risk when that’s all that’s mattered to me since I joined the SEALS.
I’m not sure I want to fix this. I think Alessia and I have done enough. I haven’t reached out, but seeing how pissed Ravenmore is makes me rethink everything.
Should I let her go?
Ravenmore paces back and forth for what feels like an entire minute. Work always comes first, and I can’t let our relationship get in between anything anymore…maybe this is all for the best, and I won’t see her anymore.
Ravenmore’s co-worker enters the room, looking up at me. He’s a short, older man who is wearing his uniform. It has too many medals for me to count, and he sits in a chair, staring at me like I’m a piece of shit.
Well, I guess I am. There’s no denying that.
Admiral looks at his co-worker and then back at me before sitting back on his desk.
“I need you on this next mission, but then I’m sending you back home until our investigation ends. I don’t know how long, but your skills are needed for this next mission that your name is already on. And then—” He sips his bourbon and sighsheavily.
And then?
I want to say it, but I feel like my soul is dead already, and the old me that doesn’t like to talk overcomes my ability to do so.
“And then it’s back to North Carolina, Creature.” I’m about to leave, but Ravenmore’s cold voice, I’m not used to hearing, stops me.
“Promise me that it’s over. Whatever you were doing with my stepdaughter is over.”
I hesitate. Not knowing how to answer it.
I want to tell him to fuck off.
