Page 7 of Red Captive

He hands the picture to Igor. “Look closer.”

He does. “Fuck!” he punches out. “You’re right. Why was she in the cited bungalow? I went to the correct location. You can’t blame me for getting it wrong. Unless you’re looking at a picture and making a comparison, it’s tough to see the difference.”

“I have no idea why this female was at the pick-up location we were given, but one thing is for certain, thisisn’tSkylar Jefferson. Who are you, female?” The general grabs my arm, squeezing tight enough to leave bruises. “Don’t lie to me.”

Craaaaaap!

“Fine.” My shoulders slump. “I’m Jen…Jennifer Harris. I lied so that you would take me back to the Mainland. It’s all I want…please. I beg you.”

“This is a fucking mess.” The general turns and walks away, running a hand through his hair. “They will be on high alert after the abduction. It won’t be so easy to get in again unseen. Fuck!”

He acts like I’m not even there.

“We’ll find a way to get her, Sire.” Igor’s features are pinched. His eyes are blazing.

Titan is looking at his feet. He whispers a cuss.

“I’m not convinced it will work.” The general keeps pacing. It looks like he is deep in thought. “There’s going to be hell to pay. This Jefferson asshole has the president by the short and curlies. This is a shitshow.”

“Give us a chance, Sire. Please!” Igor begs.

“We’ll see,” he says. “You can go!”

“What about our payment?” Igor asks.

“Payment for what?” the general snarls.

“We went onto Draig and brought a female back, matching the description you gave from the location we were given. We did what you asked.”

“You brought me back the wrong female. You’ve made trouble for me. This female is trouble. If Arctic finds out she is here, there will be hell to pay. He’s soft. He doesn’t have the balls like I do.”

“Yes, but we followed orders.” Igor is trying his luck. “It isn’t our fault the wrong female was at the pick-up location. Or that they look similar. Please, Sire.”

The general grits his teeth, clenching his jaw. “Didn’t you all study several pictures of your mark?”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts. You got a full, detailed description. All you had to do was look at her eyes. That was it. All you had to do was look at her, period. This female looks nothing like Skylar Jefferson because she isn’t Skylar Jefferson. That’s the end of the story.”

I see Igor’s throat work. “What do you want us to do with her?”

“I don’t care.”

My heart sinks.

“Take her back to Draig.” He shrugs. “You can…”

“Please forgive my interruption, Sire,” the lieutenant speaks up for the first time. “Perhaps you should consider another option.”

“What other option?” The general looks at his watch. “I need to make a call. I want you all out of my office.”

“We can’t lose sight of the fact that this is a human female. Afemale, Sire. A female of a breeding age, might I add. I’m not sure we’re exactly in a position to be tossing her out with the trash. I think you should consider keeping her.”

Breeding age. What the fuck!?

“Why?” He looks me up and down, sizing me up, making my skin crawl. “I prefer dragon shifter females by far. She looks breakable.” He looks at me with disdain. “Not my type at all.” He wrinkles his nose and shakes his head.

What an asshole. Not that I’m interested in any way, shape, or form. I’m not! He’s awful. I keep my mouth shut…for now, at least.

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