Rick closed the door behind him and sat in one of the leather seats he was becoming more familiar with. The general hung up the phone. “You care to tell me why I had to lie to the FBI that Lydia Stevens died today? In an explosion no less.”
Rick crossed his ankle over one leg. “That’s why I came. I’ve had Lydia under surveillance the whole time I was here. It seems the FBI had her targeted on their terrorist list. My mission was to recruit her for her talents or kill her so she wouldn’t be a threat. They don’t know about her tie with the Bennetts, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
The general nodded. “You have my word.”
“I appreciate that.”
The General cleared his throat. “Have you told her?”
Rick never lowered his gaze. As much as he hated to admit it, she’d never forgive him. “Yes, she knows about my mission.”
“And?”
Rick clenched his jaw. “She knows that I love her.”
“And?”
Rick looked down and picked the imaginary lint off his jeans. “I haven’t told her I killed her yet.” He looked up. “That’s where you come in. Let her think it was your idea. She won’t be able to have a normal life if the FBI knows she’s still alive.” He felt his brows pull together. “I just want her to be happy. You can understand that, can’t you?”
“I’ll take care of Lydia.” The general leaned back in his chair. “What about you? What are you going to do?”
Rick stood from the chair and walked to the door. “I turned in my resignation, so I don’t know.” He pulled the door open. “But I’ll be in touch every now and then to check in on her.”
The general rounded his desk and pushed the door closed again. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple, son.” The general gestured to the chair. “You’ve been injected with something that we can’t identify. You need to be monitored, not only for your own safety, but for those around you.”
Rick waved his hand in the air. “I’m not going far, just back to Southall. I’m hoping Jake will give me a job now that I’m unemployed.”
The general nodded and walked to his desk. He pulled out a spare phone and handed it to him. “Go lick your wounds for now, but I’ll in touch.” Rick tried to hand him the phone back, but the general ignored it and walked back over to his desk. “If you don’t take it, then I’m afraid I can’t let you go.”
Rick slid the phone into his pocket and pulled the door open. “How do you know I won’t ditch it when I leave?”
The general grinned and glanced at Rick’s watch. “You’ll do the right thing. I have faith in you.” The general lifted a finger. “Hang on a sec.” He picked up the phone. “Thompson needs a ride to the airport. He’ll be ready in five minutes.” The general grunted. “Take the Hummer.” He hung up the phone. “Your ride will be ready when you are.”
Rick went back to his room. He pulled out a piece of paper and pen from the drawer and scribbled a note. He picked up his bag and stopped by Lydia’s room before he left. The guys standing guard just nodded and let him in. After leaving he made the walk of shame. He’d failed not only his mission but more importantly he’d broken her heart.
Rick pushed open the compound door and pulled the sunglass down over his eyes. He groaned when he saw who was waiting on him. “You again?” Rick glanced back over his shoulder at the closed door. “I guess the general wants to torture me one more time.”
Brody lifted a brow. “I hear you confessed whatever the hell it was you were hiding.”
Rick ignored him and pulled open the Hummer’s passenger door and climbed in.
Brody climbed in the other side. “If it makes you feel better, she’s pissed at me too.”
He wasn’t happy to hear that she was mad at Brody too. It defeated what he was trying to accomplish. Rick leaned back in the seat. Having Lydia mad at Brody was going to make it difficult for the man to watch out for her, to be there for her. Rick didn’t know how to make everything right again for Lydia. He glanced over at Brody. “You need to fix it.”
Brody raised his brow and glanced at Rick as he put the vehicle in gear. “Easier said than done, Romeo. You didn’t see her in the cafeteria. She was pissed. And trust me when I tell you, redheads have a whole different level of pissed than most women.”
Rick released a long sigh. He needed to make Brody see how important it was not only for Lydia but the rest of the unit. Unlike Brody, Rick had met the notorious Floyd, and Rick’s instincts were to grab Lydia and take her someplace safe. Rick turned in his seat. “Brody, you need to listen to me very carefully. If Floyd ever gets his hands on her, we’ll be lucky if he doesn’t drain all of the blood out of her and inject himself and his so-called soldiers.”
Rick turned and glanced out at the passing trees. “You are the only one strong enough to keep her safe and fight back. She needs you.” He paused. “And I need you not to fail.”
Brody was silent for all of five seconds. “You love her, don’t you?”