Page 3 of Desolation

He holds up his hands. “Keep it.” He pauses and runs his hands over his face. “You need it for wherever you’re going.”

I nod and jump out of the SUV before I can shut the door Diego says, “Be safe, Mariela. This isn’t the life you chose.”

I slam the door without saying anything and head inside to wait for my bus. I open the envelope he gave me and pull out the passport and ID.

Marianne Gutierrez.

My new identity.

Chapter One

Landon

I pull up in front of Cole Security Forces and throw my Jeep in park. I look in the rearview mirror and brush my hand through my wind-blown hair. I take the toothpick out of my mouth and throw it into the cupholder before checking my watch and climbing out of my baby.

I love my Jeep. It is my baby. And everyone on my team knew to never fuck with it. Of course that meant they fucked with it all the time.

I cross the sidewalk and enter the building. When I get to reception I am escorted back to a conference room where I am told to wait. The room is clean with plain lines, dark gray paint covers each wall, black chairs surround a black table. Just like I would expect out of a security company's conference room. It’s strange the room has no windows. If the lights were dimmed a bit more, it could be an interrogation room. And who the hell knows, this might be an interrogation, not an interview.

I look toward the door and tap my fingers on my thighs. I have never met Jackson Cole. He was already out of the SEALs when I joined but I have heard about him. I’ve heard he’s arrogant, confident, and intimidating. But I don’t get intimidated by much. I was warned to take heed with him. But I know I am the right man for this job. I was a SEAL. I was honorable. I was the best on my team.

Was, being the operative word.

But I am ready to get myself back. Be the one everyone can rely on. Be the best again.

The door opens and I stand as a man with blonde hair enters.

Not Jackson Cole.

“Landon Thompson,” the man says, holding out his hand for me to shake. “Nice to meet you. I am Mark Dixon. Jackson’s right-hand man. His number one. His bestie for life. His—”

“His pain in the ass.”

I look up to see Jackson Cole walk through the door. “Landon, thank you for coming in.”

I shake hands with both of them. “Pleasure is all mine. I am glad to be here.”

Jackson gestures to the chairs and I take my seat again. “Mark got your name from your commander. He said you were a well-rounded individual, a hard worker, an impeccable team player.”

I nod with a grin. All good things, I am glad to hear.

“Then why were you discharged?” Jackson commands.

Well then, I guess we are getting right to it. “I had a bad reaction to losing a teammate.”

“A bad reaction?” Mark cuts in.

I crack my knuckles and set my palms on the table, leaning forward. “You ever lose someone on duty?” I look back and forth between both of them. “Lose someone when you should have had their six?”

I look between the two and they both have the same look on their face. We are all good at hiding our emotions, our gut reactions. But I know what to look for, we were all trained for it. And that tiny shift in Jackson’s eye and the slight raise of Mark’s brow gives me my answer. Not to mention I already knew about them before committing to this interview.

“Thought so,” I say smugly. “Now we all do stupid shit when it happens. I didn’t make good decisions. I got discharged. Honorably.”

Jackson clears his throat. “Would you have made those same decisions again if you weren’t discharged?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I would like to say I wouldn’t. But you never know how the mind is going to react to losing someone.”

Jackson looks over at Mark and Mark bulges his eyes out at him. I have no idea what secret conversation they are having mentally but it doesn’t look friendly.

---