Page 30 of Redeeming Violet

I knew my answer was the unpopular one, and it went against everything these men believed but I would not back down.

“Sir, with all due respect, I thought then and still do, what I did was the right thing. I weighed my options and measured them carefully. There are one-hundred-five names on that list, their safety, and the catastrophic impact their exposure would’ve caused, was and still is more important than Peter Newton’s privacy. I don’t mean to sound callous, as I’ve explained, I’m sorry that Olivia Cox’s life was put in danger; however, it was for the greater good and national security. When I received the information a SEAL platoon was in danger and proprietary hardware had been compromised, I went to the only person I thought I could trust.”

“But you didn’t think to trust them when you were first blackmailed?” the President inquired.

“No sir, I didn’t. And I regret not thinking to do so. However, I don’t think they would’ve protected the list. I knowingly went against the United States policy and basically negotiated with a terrorist. For that alone, I willingly committed treason, and I’m fully aware of the punishment. I know I have no rights, and I’ve already mentioned this to Jasmin, but if I may be granted one small leniency - I beg you not to tell Declan what I’ve done.”

“Why is that?” Zane asked.

“He doesn’t deserve to feel any guilt. If he knows I’m spending the rest of my life in prison because I was trying to protect the names, his included, he’ll feel responsible. I don’t want that for him. He didn’t know.”

“Any luck tracking down Manuel or Declan?” the President asked Zane.

“Not yet. I have Garret and my team, as well as Tex, trying to get a lock on both of them,” Zane answered.

“And the list? Have the names been released?”

“Surprisingly no. Ortega seems more interested in Violet at the moment. Tex was able to shut down the sale of the guidance chip by going into chatrooms and explaining the US is no longer using the mini drones. Seems no one wants to buy technology that is no longer being used.”

I waited for the President and Zane to finish their conversation, tuning out the rest of what they were talking about, and concentrating on Jaxon’s hand still on my knee. I was going to miss him when he was gone. It was strange to think I’d only known him a few days, most of which were spent with him not being very fond of me. How, in such a small amount of time, had I come to care about him? The connection I felt was more than physical, it was comforting and soothing. I felt it deep in my soul.

I wondered if I’d be taken now? I’d given Zane all the information I had. I was of no use to them anymore. Now I was the strap Jasmin had once accused me of being. I was dead weight and Jaxon having to babysit me was a waste of man hours. I should’ve been happy I had a few stolen moments with him to take with me. How perfect it had been to be kissed and touched by Jaxon Cain. And loved, even if it was with his body. I’d lock those memories away and keep them close. But it wasn’t enough. I was greedy and wished I had more time with him.

It was the perfect punishment for what I’d done. I’d spend the rest of my life wishing I had more time with him, longing for the feel of him wrapped around me, and always wondering what if.

Chapter Sixteen

Jaxon

Violet was lost in thought. She’d pulled into herself when Zane and the President started discussing how Tex was trying to track down her brother and Manuel. I was proud of her for answering him with honesty. She’d conducted herself with respect and never wavered from what she believed was the right thing. I was surprised when she’d asked us not to tell Declan she was involved, though I shouldn’t have been. All along she’d been willing to fall on the sword and never asked for anything other than understanding. What mattered to Violet was not that we agreed with her, but that we understood why she’d done it.

I knew Tom was going to pardon Violet the minute he’d sat across from her. Even though he still hadn’t told her. Tom Anderson was a fair man; he loved his country and family. Both he held dear. And though I doubt he’d admit it, and I had a hard time acknowledging it also, but in the grand scheme of things protecting national interest outweighed one person. It was a hard admission, especially because I now knew Olivia, and my friend and teammate Leo was in love with her.

The only thing Violet was guilty of was not telling someone she was being blackmailed. The perimeter alarm sounded, and I looked at the monitor then at Zane. His face was pulled into what could be described as a grimace, but for him it was a smile - a wicked one that told me I wasn’t going to like what he’d planned. When the three occupants exited the SUV, I wanted to strangle Zane. Violet’s knee had started to once again bounce, and she was biting her bottom lip. She recognized them as well.

Zane and Tom stood as the newest additions to our meeting joined us in the basement. Aaron and Gerald stepped aside allowing them to enter the room.

“Jasmin,” Tom greeted.

“Uncle.” She allowed Tom to pull her into a hug and when he released her she gave the rest of us a lift of her chin.

“Panther. Nice to see you again,” Tom reached out and shook Leo’s hand. “Olivia.”

Olivia remained quiet and kept her eyes locked on Violet. I made a move to stand, wanting to put myself between the two women. Violet stopped me when she grabbed my hand and squeezed.

“Mr. Pres… er… Tom,” Leo quickly corrected his greeting. All of us, me included, still had a hard time referring to the POTUS by his first name, though he insisted and would brow-beat you if you forgot.

The silence in the room was deafening as Olivia, and now Leo, sized up Violet. Zane seemed pretty proud of himself for setting up this ambush.

“This her?” Leo asked. He’d slipped into the cold and calculating mercenary.

Much to my surprise Violet stood, her back ramrod straight, and with steel infused into her tone she introduced herself.

“Did you know?” Olivia’s voice broke the tension.

“Did I know what?” Violet asked.

She softened her tone when addressing Olivia directly and her shoulders hunched. Now that she’d come face-to-face with the woman she’d had a hand in kidnapping, the reality seemed to be getting to her.