Page 54 of The 9th Man

He could see that comment stung. Jack Talley was a certified American hero. He’d stood his ground in the face of a superior opposing force, knowing he’d probably die. But he hadn’t. Which sometimes was the hero’s curse.

“I had a family to support, Ms. Stein. And I had limited capabilities for doing that.”

“I had a grandfather.”

“I told you, I had nothing to do with his death.”

“But you’re not going to do anything about it either, are you?”

“I just did.”

Luke decided to try another tack. “If you could’ve stopped it, would you have?”

“It doesn’t work like that.”

“How does it work?”

“I get my orders and I’m expected to perform. I’m paid well for that service. So was Persik. But he, along with the rest of his KOPASSUS Red Beret Corps, were mercenary murderers. Let’s just say I had my fill of him and them.”

Which seemed accurate. Talley had shot those men without a moment’s hesitation. Exactly as he’d been trained to do.

“Before you got here,” Luke said, “Persik mentioned something about consequences for failure. Is that what you’re talking about?”

“More or less. Who I work for…you don’t get to resign. You die in the position.”

“But the money’s just too good, right?” Jillian asked.

“My wife and children want for nothing and never will. College, retirement, house with no mortgage, all of it. They’re set for life.”

“But at what cost?” Luke asked.

“You married? Got kids?”

He shook his head.

“If you did, would there be anything you wouldn’t do for them?”

He decided to not fall into the moral trap. “Here’s what I know.De Opresso Liber.” The Army Special Forces motto. To Free the Oppressed.

“Don’t do that,” Talley said.

“I pledge to uphold the honor and integrity of their legacy, in all that I am—in all that I do.” He knew reciting part of the special forces’ creed was a gut punch for Talley, but the man needed reminding. It was the pledge by which they all lived, retired or not. “I will not fail those with whom I serve. I will not bring shame upon myself or Special Forces.Did you forget all that when you were discharged?”

“I didn’t come here for a lecture.”

“Hardest thing of all is doing the right thing when no one’s looking.”

“I know. I just did it.”

He wondered what was happening here. Talley came in firing. He’d definitely come on a mission. And it wasn’t to save the guy who saved his ass all those years ago. But he still needed to know—

“Who do you work for?”

“Like I’m going to tell you that.”

“Then at least tell us what this is all about,” Jillian said. “Why’d your boss want Benji dead? And now us?”

Talley did not immediately reply and Luke could see he was struggling.

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