Page 16 of Pretend
Jerk didn’t want to confess.
“Okay?” I murmur out slowly. “That still doesn't explain anything.”
He shifts in his seat, both elbows now on the arms of the chair. He is looking like he’s trying hard to bite his tongue and force out words.
“Your name popped up on a list.” He says simply.
“What list?"
“Military intelligence. They found a list with names of people that Omar’s army wanted to find...to kill. There was a mission not too long ago. Where we found HVTs in Georgia; while conducting this mission, we also stumbled across human traffickers. We’ve pissed a lot of people off lately. And to my surprise, there’s an investigation surrounding the base. There might be service members that are involving themselves in human trafficking.”
“And I’m on that list of people they want to traffic or kill?” I gasp.
He nods.
“What? How? Why?”
“I don’t know, to be honest. My guess is that my name is on that list, and you are my stepdaughter. My step-daughter who wears a uniform. So, by association, they want you dead or taken as well. For some odd reason, you hold a high bounty. We’re still trying to figure out why.”
“What the hell?” My eyes circle when I realize I cursed in front of the Admiral. “Sorry, sir, won’t happen again. But is this because of the stateside mission that the Executioners did?”
“Maybe. We don’t know why evil people do evil things. At the end of the day, all we can do is try and save lives.Yourlife.”
“But I have to be on a plane on the way to Iraq soon!”
“I know that. And you’re going but...with Creature. He has been tasked with keeping you safe in terms of a personal security detail. Your mother wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“What?! Why? I’m not a politician. I’m not a general…or a high-ranking officer?” I stutter over my words, waving my hand in the air defensively, trying to point out all the reasons why this is a bad idea and he needs to rethink this.
“No, but you’re a target, dammit!” Ravenmore loses his cool and slams his fist on the desk, and my mouth shuts closed. He’s always had a bad temper.
“Someone has to watch over you while you do your job over there. And it’s going to be him.”
“But!” I continue to protest, shifting uncomfortably.
“It's done.” He snarls. “Operator Creature will be watching over you until your deployment is over. It’s not just the list, Alessia.” He slips up when he addresses me by my name. “It wasn’t just a coincidence that Operator Grim Reaper was ambushed and Operator Slayer’s little sister was kidnapped.”
“What are you talking about?” I cross my arms.
“Someone onour sidebetrayed us for that bounty’s reward of money. I don’t know who. It could be someone from Delta. Someone from the SEAL teams or someone who works in intelligence. It’s under investigation. And if this person was able to turn in Ari and get Grim almost killed, they know what they’re doing and how to do it. They’re good. So,” he knocks on the wood two times, “Operator Creature and Operator Bane have been placed on PSD for you, with Creature taking the lead.”
PSD. Personal Security Detail.
This is all so much information, and I’m trying to wrap my head around it.
You mean the man who held a knife to my neck just a few minutes ago?Great.
“Is all of this really necessary? Is all this because of what happened to my window last night?” My voice rises.
He flinches, and his head tilts to the side, confused.
“What happened to your window?”
Does he know? Should I tell him what happened? If I do, my mother will only worry about me more, and I don’t want that.
I change the subject. I look down at my boots and fiddle with my fingers, swallowing nervously.
“Nothing…” I mumbled under my seething breath. “It’s a six-month deployment,” I counter, reminding him of my orders. “Surely, Daegan’s qualifications are needed elsewhere.”
