Page 105 of Fire for Effect

“Miss Guerro?” The President asked, tentatively.

I wondered why, despite the constraints, they hadn’t thought to gag me.

“Corner of Amsterdam and Church Street,” I said, knowing that I was at the Prodigal Sons Compound. “Twenty Minutes due north of Mourningkill, red brick warehouse…”

I was reciting everything I knew about the location, and no one shut me up. That should have been my first clue that this information was irrelevant, but you can’t override years of training.

But the moment a familiar laugh came through from the back of the room, my hair stood on end, and I clamped my mouth shut again.

Speak of the Devil and he will come.

I had spoken of him just hours ago, and it seemed that it materialized him into my life.

I felt the familiar cold steel of a barrel, it’s jagged edge against my sensitive, swollen cheek.

“Hello, sweetheart.” Heath Carlin stood beside me, staring right into the men in the Situation Room, holding my life in his hands… again.

I suppose he was used to seeing me battered and bruised.

“I can confirm that she is, indeed, Trinity Guerro, formerly Trinity Carlin.” I looked up at him, and his bright blue eyes - the color of sapphires.

It was unfair that he could have such vibrant color in his soulless gaze. They looked like contacts, but I knew that they were real. I wanted to pluck them out, or see them grayed out in death.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear her confirm it,” Director Griffith said in an almost languid drawl. He was speaking unnaturally slow.

I knew the score.

“My name is Trinity Blaze Guerro,” I said, matching his slowed pace. “I’m a resident of Mourningkill, New York.” I rattled off my social security number, birthday, and my former rank and unit. Then, for good measure, I added, “I was never Trinity Carlin, you limp-dicked biscuit.”

The butt of a pistol came down on the side of my head, crashing so hard that I saw stars.

“Shut up!” Heath said, spittle from his jagged teeth flying onto my face. I couldn’t wipe it off, because my hands were tied, though I was two seconds from She-Hulking out of the binds just to make sure nothing of him stayed on me. I’d have to bathe in boiling iodine to sanitize him off.

Director Griffith and I had spoken slowly because we were buying time. Time for a Reaction Force. Time for a rescue. Time to come up with a plan.

When you are held captive, you can do one of two things - give in to despair, or keep the faith. The faith that someone is coming after you. That you’re not left behind or forgotten.

The bracelet on my wrist burned, as I remembered that I wasn’t alone. Not right now. Not anymore.

I was staring at Kai Griffith’s father, and he had to have known… something.

“You already know my wife,” Heath said, turning to the men. “Now tell us where the Ghost is.”

“Ex,” I said, louder than necessary.

“What?” Heath snapped, slapping me on the cheek so hard my head whipped to the side, the sound of it echoing on the bare, plaster walls.

I coughed and spluttered, feeling my nose and mouth fill with blood. I spat it at him, but it sprayed uselessly and disappeared before it could stain his pristine skin.

“Ex-wife. I’m your ex-wife, remember?” I said, with a laugh. “I left you cos I was too busy getting banged by real Green Berets.”

That was his accusation. Now… it was partially true. I had had two amazing nights with my former teammate. Three, if you counted the one from all those years ago. My only regret was that I didn’t fuck Kai Griffith sooner.

I could see the string that bound Heath’s temper pull taut, ready to snap.

I had to read a lot of books after I got out of my relationship with Heath. When I finally pulled myself from that disaster, I had to do a post-mortem to figure out where the fuck I had gone wrong. How I had ended up under his spell and his power.

I looked up why a person would abuse another, and why someone would harm their spouse.

---