Page 79 of The Art of You

My father looked up and I pivoted, following his gaze to see Bella and her brothers on the deck.

“What’s going on?” Constantine called down as I faced forward again, determined to get through to my father one way or another.

“Let me be very clear, I won’t sit by and let the CIA play a game of fuck around and find out resulting in the loss of more lives the way their bogus intel did back in 2010.”

“What are you talking about?” His jaw didn’t hitch that time. He really didn’t know the truth about the op that day, did he?

“Maybe Kit wouldn’t be so hell-bent on taking me down to get to you if you hadn’t broken her heart.”

“Like you’re any fucking better when it comes to women. Look at your own reputation.” That low blow from him as he lifted his gaze, presumably peering at Bella, had me locking my hands at my sides. “Now tell me, do I have to do more damage control with the press than I thought I did?” He skipped right back to the point before I could, concerns for his campaign hanging in the balance after all.

My news would send him over the edge I’d already jumpedoff.

“Maybe ask your friends in Intelligence or in Congress instead, why don’t you? Let them tell you what really happened that day in 2010. Have them share how bad intel the CIA forced my team to follow resulted in catastrophe. Congress and the CIA covered up their mess back then like they’re now trying to hide why those two Marines really died.” I was the one stabbing the air between us this time. “There was no training exercise that day. I wasn’t on the op because of your email about Mom. Men lost their lives, and I’ve been dead on the inside ever since.”

He abruptly stared at the pavers between us, and I decided not to wait for him to process what I’d said. Because a burning question was now sitting in the back of my head, and I had to ask. My gut said I was right and already knew the answer, though.

I dropped my head forward and rasped, “Just tell me one of your pals in D.C. isn’t Seth Maverick.”Because so help me.

“How do you know that name?”

I took my time to look up, my stomach in knots. “Maverick’s playing both sides,” I revealed, determining I was right. “He leaked the truth about my operation to Clarke, yet he never told you. Then Clarke shared the after-action report with his girlfriend, Kit.” I tore my hand through my hair, shaking my head.

He stared at me, rubbing his hand back and forth over his mouth. “Seth wouldn’t have access to that kind of intelligence,” he said dismissively, acknowledging he was one of his contacts. “And no, he didn’t tell me about the CIA’s plans. I don’t know how you got his name, but?—”

“Maybe it’s you who should learn to keep your mouth shut and stop talking to your pals in D.C.” I was too pissed to let him continue. I’d heard enough.

A low hiss left his mouth as he brought himself closer. “I’ll tell you what, it’s obvious someone sure as hell woke a sleepinggiant”—he looked up at the deck before facing me again—“but it for damn sure wasn’t me.” He turned, preparing to retreat to the safety of his yes-men waiting back by the helo, but I shot out my arm, stopping him.

He stole a look over his shoulder at where my hand rested on his arm. I leaned in closer so he could hear melima charlie, loud and clear in a way I’d never once spoken to him before. “Go. Fuck. Yourself.”

Chapter 29

Hudson

“I’m good. Just need a second.”I threw my hand up in the air without looking back, waving Constantine away so he’d get off my ass and stop following me.

“You’ll have to take that second with me, then.” Constantine came up alongside me, easily outpacing me on the beach since my body was still not 100% from the accident. Ray-Bans back on, he asked, “Me or Izzy? Take your pick.”

“You’re not my type, man,” I tossed out. “And I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone.”

Boiling point officially reached. That heart-to-heart with my old man—in front of everyone else, no less—had sent me over the edge.

Nothing quite like Bella hearing my father call me a fuckboy mere hours after Constantine found me in bed with her under their parents’ roof to really kick off my Monday morning. Throw in the fact we’d now have to find a way to intervene with a CIA operation while not winding up a casualty or behind bars.

So, yeah, I needed to cooloff. Alone.

“Izzy was going to chase after you.”

I ignored him, walking as if I had places to be. And I did.Anywhere but here.

“I figured you’d be in a foul mood, and I didn’t want you yelling at her,” he went on, and I abruptly stopped and faced him. We were only inches away from where the Atlantic ate away at the sand.

“So, you volunteered as tribute, huh?” I may have been angry, but not with him. “I’d never raise my voice to her, and you know that. Insulted you’d even think such a thing.”

“You’re right.” Despite the sun glaring in his eyes, he removed the shades he’d only just put on. His shoulders, which always seemed to be holding the weight of the world, dropped. “Your father’s wrong about you. About his accusations against us, too.”

I grunted. “I can’t do this now.”

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