Page 78 of The Art of You

“What you don’t know is the CIA heard chatter about an attack beforehand, but decided the intel wasn’t reliable and opted not to act in advance. Turns out, they were wrong. It was a credible threat.”

“They could’ve been saved,” I seethed, drawing my hands to my hips, still uncertain how this news connected to the ambassador’s daughter. Or to Clarke. To anyone for that matter.

“Unlike what happened to us, Spanish Intelligence, CNI, did take preemptive action when they had a similar threat from the same group back in April. They not only saved their embassy from an attack, they caught the head of the terrorist cell responsible. They were able to tie him directly to the attack on the U.S. embassy in Algeria as well.”

Fuck.Now I knew where this was going.

“The Spanish have him in one of their black sites and refused a request to transfer him to U.S. custody,” he went on. “The kidnappers demanded Ambassador Aldana provide the location of the black site in exchange for her daughter. They knew she couldn’t negotiate his release, so this was the next best thing. They’d planned to hold on to Lola until after they’d successfully rescued their boss from the black site, worried she’d give the military a heads-up they were coming for him otherwise.”

And there it is. I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes.

“I was with the ambassador when the call came in, which is how I know things even I shouldn’t.”

Yeah, the public sure as hell didn’t know those lives at our embassy could’ve been saved that day, just like they didn’t know the truth about Afghanistan. “You convinced the ambo to let me try and help first before giving up the location?”

“You and I both know they’d never have turned Lola back over, even if she played along. I offered her an alternative.You. She’d get her daughter back and not lose her job by giving those assholes what they wanted.”

My hand slowly fell to my side. “If she gave up that location, she’d have been responsible for the deaths of everyone at that black site, not to mention having the blood of those Marines on her hands, too. And every future death that terrorist would cause,” I hissed.

“And if it was Isabella’s life on the line, what would you have done? Don’t act like you wouldn’t put that woman ahead of your country.”

“I’d find a way to save her no matter what.” I leveled him with a hard look. “But I wouldn’t negotiate with savages who kill innocent people.” I remained locked in a staring contest with him, forced to squint with the morning sunlight in myeyes. “You should’ve told me I was dealing with terrorists Friday. I brought Bella to that party, dammit.”

“Apparently, we now know you were dealing with mercenaries hired by the terrorists to kidnap Lola.”

As if that fact made a goddamn difference to me. Facts were fucking facts. “This is why the CIA took control even though we’re on U.S. soil,” I tossed out a moment later, remembering that important detail from our call last night.

“The CIA intercepted chatter about the kidnapping after the fact. When they learned the FBI had two detainees, POTUS put in a call and allowed the Agency to take those men and the valet off their hands for questioning. From what I know, they’re useless. The terrorists outsourced to these men to keep themselves out of the equation in case things went sideways, which they did. The valet also claimed he was only paid to tag your vehicle and eavesdrop on you when possible.”

I figured as much about the valet. “I’m sure the terrorists have a backup plan since the kidnapping attempt failed.”

My father’s jaw shifted, a clear tell he knew more, and I was also right.

It clicked a moment later, and the blood drained from my face. “The Agency isn’t going to tell the Spanish about this, and the ambassador won’t tell her government the truth about what they were really after, am I right?” I didn’t wait for an answer. “She’s protecting her own ass. And the CIA is going to set a trap to see if the terrorists make a play for their boss again. If our government tells the Spanish, they’ll preemptively move the target and put their site on high alert. The Agency will not only miss their chance to locate the whole terrorist cell, but lose the opportunity to get their hands on the boss like they originally wanted.” I turned away from him, cupping my jaw in anger.

This was the kind of shit that got my men killed on the opthat day. Playing politics with lives on the line. Decisions being made by suits instead of the uniforms on the ground who actually knew what was going on firsthand.

I spun back around when another thought hit me. “Who told you this? The ambassador wouldn’t have this kind of insider knowledge when it comes to the CIA.”

“I still have friends in Congress and at the Pentagon. Don’t forget, I was a senator before, and in the military before that.”

“Yeah, well, these friends of yours are now sharing classified intelligence with someone who lacks the proper clearance. Not exactly legal,” I reminded him.

“Do I need to remind you about your side gig? No badge, last time I checked. You turned yours in, throwing away the chance to become a director one day. You know how much that could’ve helped me to have you inside the Bureau?”

“Always about you and what helps your career,” I said bitterly.

He ignored my words and spit out, “The good news is you’re now in the clear. The Feds have orders to leave you and the Costas alone. That call came from the President himself. He knows what you did Friday—not only saving Lola, but also keeping the ambassador from giving up their black site.” He looked back over his shoulder toward the helo, an indication he had no plans to stay and talk with my team. “As for the third shooter on the side of the road, just forget about it. It’s no longer your concern.”

I faked a laugh. The borderline losing-it kind.No longer my concern, huh?Had he lost his damn mind? Apparently. “Let me ask you, is the President privy to this plan of the Agency’s to sidestep the Spanish to get their hands on these terrorists themselves, risking innocent lives lost as collateral damage?”

My father’s jaw shifted again. “If you so much as open your mouth about what I told you, so help me . . .” He stabbed theair, his finger narrowly missing my chest as I stepped back in disgust. “Go back home and put this behind you. That’s all you need to do right now. I’m still working on damage control from the press, but you need to keep a low profile with Clarke so hell-bent on finding something on you to get to me.”

I couldn’t believe this. And at the same time, I could. This was the governor, not a father I was talking to, after all. “The case isn’t closed. Not for me.”

“I said to drop it.”

I was about to lose my head, and had I not heard the sound of the door opening and shutting behind me, I would’ve.

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