Page 31 of Redeeming Violet

“That they were going to kidnap and torture me?”

“No. I didn’t know what they’d planned on doing with the information. As far as I knew, they wanted the information to blackmail the Attorney General into releasing a man Mr. Newton was holding in rendition.”

“Would you have still given them the information if you’d known they were going to kidnap me?”

Tears formed in Violet’s eyes and she hung her head. After a few minutes of silence, she lifted her gaze to Olivia and answered.

“Yes.” Violet didn’t try and hide her shame or her tears. And when Leo growled, Violet startled but continued. “I was willing to sacrifice you as well as myself if it meant that the list didn’t become public. I had to try and protect their identities.”

“What the fuck gives you the right to decide who gets to be sacrificed?” Leo asked.

My muscles tightened at the tone he was using. It was an inexplicable reaction, one I never thought I’d feel. Leo was a close friend and a teammate. We trusted each other with our lives. Our friendship was solid and battle-tested yet I wanted to rip his throat out from talking to Violet the way he was. A woman I barely knew.

“The same thing that gives you the right to go into battle and kill for the cause. I took the same oath you did to protect this country from all enemies. I didn’t get to decide who the enemy was and what they were going to do. I had the lives of American agents in my hands. Agents I am willing to give my life to protect. While I am deeply sorry Olivia was put in harm’s way, let’s not forget once I knew she’d been taken I tried my best to give you all the information you needed to find her. I didn’t want one single American death. However, one-hundred and five other Americans were at risk. And I hate to be crass here, but you know their deaths wouldn’t have been clean. They wouldn’t have been kept in a room chained to a wall, given food and water. While my heart breaks for Olivia, and I’m not belittling what happened to her, those men and women would have been tortured, and it would’ve been broadcasted and celebrated. I couldn’t live with myself knowing…” Her voice cracked, and she stopped to clear her throat. “I couldn’t live knowing they’d suffer, the last deep cover agent that was burned was beheaded, carved up, and hung from a fucking bridge by his arms, Leo. So, I’m sorry about what happened, but I still wouldn’t change it. And I’m sorry Olivia. If I could’ve been the one locked in the room, I would’ve gladly changed places with you.”

The room was so still. Olivia’s sobs seemed to echo around the room. Leo pulled her into his arms, his large frame engulfing the woman. When she spoke, her words were barely audible. “I understand.”

I should’ve known my friend wouldn’t let it go. “I don’t. I will never understand why you thought what you were doing was right. You almost got an innocent woman killed. When I found Olivia, her wrists were infected, and she was severely dehydrated. Another day and she could’ve died.”

“Leo. That’s not fair. Have you ever had to make a judgement call, one that was uncomfortable? One that you’re not proud of?” Olivia asked.

“Don’t. Do not compare my honorable service to what this bitch has done.”

“Easy, brother. I get why you’re mad. But let’s ease up on calling her a bitch,” I told him.

“Ease up? What the fuck? So now you’re gonna take her side over my woman?” Leo returned.

“It’s not like that and you know it. I’ll always have Olivia’s back because she’s yours. All I’m saying is if the woman we found in that house was anyone other than Olivia, you might be looking at this situation a different way.”

“Would I? She nearly cost Olivia her life! And it wasn’t another woman, it was my woman,” Leo yelled.

“No one is arguing that. But she did it to save more than a hundred others. And she did send us Olivia’s location. And she did bring us intel to help Wolf and his team. And she did step in front of a bullet for Jasmin and saved her life. So, while you want to be pissed because it’s your woman who Violet wronged, let’s be real here. Both of us have had to make hard calls, hard calls that ended with someone dead. We’ve both been in her shoes. The difference? We pulled the trigger. She didn’t have it in her to sacrifice Olivia.”

“She gave intel to a fucking terrorist,” Leo continued to argue.

“She did.”

“She did not call it in. She went all rogue-fucking-warrior and took it upon herself to make judgment calls so far above her paygrade they’re in a different universe.”

“She did,” I continued to agree.

“And now you’re what, just okay with it?” he spat out.

“Fuck no, I’m not just okay with it. The difference is I’ve had more time to understand why she made those calls.”

“Serious as fuck. You’re buying this bullshit? Or is it because you’ve spent the last twenty-four-hours balls deep…”

“I wouldn’t finish that sentence,” I told him and pushed Violet behind me.

“Enough!” Zane barked. “Christ, when did my men start acting like thirteen-year-old prepubescent boys that just popped their first boner. Panther, you don’t have to like it. I knew you wouldn’t, but once you stop thinking about Olivia you’ll see what the rest of us see.”

“And what’s that Z?” Leo fired back.

“A situation that was or is completely FUBAR. As pissed as I am at her, and I reserve the right to call her a dumbass or The Leak in the future, after reviewing Tex’s intel I agree with her. I would’ve given the information about Peter Newton to Timothy Fuckwit Clark. I’m sorry, you’ve always been a little crazy when it comes to protecting Olivia. Once you have time to think on the situation, you’ll understand.”

I wasn’t sure if my jaw had hit the ground. That was the first time I’d heard Zane say he agreed with Violet’s actions. I found it surprising he’d admit he would have done the same thing. The President cleared his throat, reminding us all he was still in the room and had witnessed our argument.

“I have a few things to tell you all before I get back to the White House. Off the record, as a UDT and man, not as the President. First, thank you Violet for saving my niece. Panther? Blue?” He waited until Leo and I broke our stare down and looked at him. “Goddamn, I miss being a young man with a fire in my gut that made me want to raise hell and crack skulls. The fury and fire you feel deep in your soul that reminds you you’re alive. We have a common enemy, Manuel Ortega. He has a list of names, your brothers and sisters, and it’s up to you to find him and eliminate him. Panther, that woman standing beside you that you so fiercely love and protect was given to you by that woman over there.” The President stopped and pointed at Violet. “As fate saw fit, Violet’s actions sent you to save her. She also found a father she never knew she had. You can waste your energy being pissed or you can be the man I know you are and assess, survey, and evaluate your current situation and find you would’ve sacrificed the few for the good of the many as well. Zane, we’ll talk later. One more thing before I leave.” Tom walked closer to Violet and offered her his hand. When she took it, he gave her a tug, so she was standing almost toe-to-toe with him. “Don’t ever be so stupid again that you allow the filth and scum of this earth to collar you and bind your hands. I understand you thought you were doing the best you knew how when you were alone. You’re not alone anymore. Any issue, even the smallest hint of an issue, you go to Jaxon or Zane.”