Now he looked disappointed in a way that cut through my thick exterior shell and tore at my heart.
I sat across from John and nodded. I wasn’t ready, but circumstances required that I share anyway. Jay continued staring down Gibson. They were light and dark mirror images of each other, with their heavily tattooed arms crossed over their chests and scowls on their faces. “I’m guessing your sons suspect too?”
Jay answered for himself, “I never gave it a second thought, but I haven’t been home that long.”
“What about Jamie and Jack?” I wanted to know if it was worth the effort to keep them in the dark.
“They suspect your job is a cover story, but none of us looked into it.”
“You know this information can’t leave this room?”
“I won’t keep this from Mary, especially since it involves Nina.”
Jay added, “I don’t keep secrets from Cate.”
Catelyn Maxwell. Marine. FBI Profiler. Daughter of a three-star general. Jay’s new wife.
“I’m not asking.” This was CIA business, and even accidental loose lips could sink ships, and cost lives.
I let the statement hang in the air.
“I’ll consent, for now,” John said.
“Jaden?”
Instead of answering, Jay asked, “So you’re a Green Beret?”
G nodded, not that he needed to; the insignia was tattooed on G’s left forearm.
“Raider.”
“I know,” Gibson answered.
“Of course you do,” Jay said, leaning back. G mirrored Jay’s actions. A truce settled between them. “I’ll keep your secret, for now,” he echoed his father’s sentiment.
“If you want our help—”
Gibson cut John off. “We don’t.”
John continued unfazed, “As I was saying.” He glanced at Gibson, daring him to interrupt again. Gibson didn’t. “If you want our help, I’ll need to brief Jamie and Jack. Depending on how much help you need, I may need to inform the rest of the team. I assure you, there’s no one I’d rather have in my corner than my team at SSI.”
Jay added, “I second that.”
“I appreciate the offer, and if something changes, I’ll let you know. For now, the fewer people who know, the better.”
John nodded. “Understood. What’s your business with Nina?”
Gibson barked, “None of your business.”
Jay cracked his knuckles and leaned forward.
“Jesus Christ, Gibson, I need you to back off and let me handle this.”
I trusted the dude and was glad he was helping me with my case, but right now he was making my life a living hell and Satan was tap dancing on my fucking brain.
“Yes, sir.”
“Jay, do me a favor and lean back.”
