Page 40 of Redeeming Violet

“My assignment wasn’t to conceal I’d been a soldier. I know the area, I know the players, they know me. My cover was as a defector. If anyone looked, they’d find I’d faked my death to leave the Marines. Same as Ortega. He once was in the Bolivian Army. He was cut loose when his superior found him smuggling drugs. After that, his loyalty was easy to buy. I fashioned my cover after what he’d done. It worked. I was able to infiltrate the drug cartel using human drug mules.”

“Oh. I’m sorry you were pulled away because of this,” she told him.

“My cover was burned anyway. Ortega knows I’m still working with the government.”

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw it was Zane.

“Yeah,” I greeted.

“I need you to go out of ear shot of Violet,” he said.

I excused myself from the conversation and made my way to the bedroom. Once the door was shut I brought the phone back up to my ear.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Ortega released six names. China, Columbia, Somalia, Malaysia, and Turkey.”

“How bad?” I asked.

“It ain’t pretty. China’s agent was found on the steps of the American Embassy, throat cut. Columbia was found gutted and packed full of heroine. Somalia was hung from an overpass. No word on Malaysia or Turkey yet. The CIA has dispatched their fast action teams and they are en route.”

Jesus Christ.

“That’s five, you said six,” I reminded him.

“Declan’s name was released, too. Which brings us to a new problem. I think he should stay here with Violet and I’ll send Panther in as his replacement.”

“I agree, but there’s not a snowballs chance in hell he’s staying behind. He already had a fire under his ass to find Ortega. When he hears about this, that fire will blaze into an inferno that not even you will extinguish.”

“Fucking cluster fuck.”

“Would you stand down?” I asked.

“Fuck no.”

“Then don’t disrespect him by suggesting he do so.”

“I hate this shit. Enjoy your night with your woman. Out.”

Zane hung up and I considered how I was going to play this. There was not a chance in hell I was going to tell Violet what had happened, which meant I couldn’t brief Declan without her getting suspicious and asking questions that would cause me to lie to her. I avoided lying whenever I could, but I wasn’t under the school of thought that withholding the truth was the same as a lie. When I walked back into the main area and saw Violet laughing at something Declan had said, it solidified my resolve to keep her in the dark. The last thing I wanted was to extinguish the light in her eyes. She needed this time with her brother, laughing and happy.

“Everything alright?” she asked when I sat back down.

“Yep.” I smiled. “So, Declan, tell us why your unit calls you Flower.” I quickly changed the subject and was satisfied when the man’s cheeks blushed.

He told us the story behind the tattoo and just as I knew she would, Violet once again beamed. Leaving her tomorrow was going to be hell.

A few hours later Declan was saying his goodbyes and I told Violet I was going to walk him through the security protocol and I’d be right back.

Declan being a smart man turned to me once we reached the exterior door.

“Update?” he asked.

“Names are being released. I’ll let Zane give you a full brief. Three dead, two missing, and your name went public as well.”

“Fuck! We knew it was a matter of time.”

“Watch your six, brother.” He took my outstretched hand and gave it a firm shake.