Page 10 of The Program

T was the only who one could get close to understanding that, but he didn’t talk much about his time with The Program. I would need to change that if I wanted a better idea of what my woman had been through.

My woman.That would take some getting used to, but that was exactly what she was. I knew before that she was hiding something, and this didn’t change how I felt about her in the slightest. If anything, I was proud and beyond stunned at her strength and perseverance. I just hoped she would still want me after all of this.

A glance around the room determined I wasn’t the only one staring intently at the picture of her standing over her friend.

‘So that’s Libby,’ Addy spoke. I didn’t think she realised she said it out loud, but my blood froze in my veins before igniting with a fiery fury at all the implications inside that one comment.

‘You knew?’ I swung my accusing gaze onto her.

She didn’t flinch like I would have expected her to, however. Instead, she met my eyes without any hint of remorse, simply a compassionate understanding that I appreciated and loathed at the same time. ‘I knew she was a woman. I knew she left her best friend behind. I knew she came from a harsh background that left its scars. I didn’t know she was one of The Program’s subjects or the extent of her trauma.’

‘Trauma? Is that what you’re calling it? It seemed like a fuck tonne more thantrauma…’ I argued. I wasn’t really angry at the wording. I was angry at her for keeping this secret from me, but her argument was valid. I just couldn’t help snapping at her.

‘Are you saying you no longer like her because of her past? Because she’s one of their subjects?’ asked Addy, a dangerous hint to her tone.

I growled, a deep sound that had only ever come out of me when Arty was involved. ‘Don’t youdare,’ I warned.

‘Dare to what?’ she challenged.

‘Are you questioning the integrity of my feelings? Do you think my love is conditional? Do you believe me so blind that I didn’t see that there was something else going on? Do you honestly think so little of me that I would abandon someone I love because I learned they had a troubled past?’

She hesitated before responding. ‘You knew.’

‘I knew she was undercover, but that’s it. And yes, I believed she was a male, but her gender wasn’t why I fell for her. That changes nothing,’ I admitted. My voice was strong and firm, full of confidence and determination.

She scrutinised me, taking in every shift of my muscles, every twitch, every breath. Then she nodded. ‘Good.’

‘Well, this has been fascinating and all, but we should get back to more important matters while we still have the time,’ Markus interrupted again. He seemed to be the one keeping us all on track during this meeting, and for that I was grateful. It was a reminder that while I still needed time to process everything I had just learned, now was not the time to do so.

‘What’s the plan?’ Urman asked. Sometimes that man was so quiet I forgot he was even in the room. It was a good skill for him to have, but I didn’t appreciate being on the receiving end as often as I was.

Or perhaps that was just a result of my slacking observation skills.

‘Reece’s trial is being moved up,’ Markus informed us. He seemed to be the one with most of the information today, and I wondered where he was getting it. Maybe Adara was right not to trust him…

‘When?’ asked Xander.

‘It’s happening this week. They need to empty out the cells in preparation for the shipment.’

‘Wait, does that mean the shipment ispeople?’ I blurted, reading between the lines.

‘Subjects, most likely, though we don’t have confirmation yet.’

‘What the fuck?’ Cadmus asked quietly from across the table. Ever since the take-over he hadn’t been his usual stuck-up self. Sure, he still had his moments, but he was a lot more introspective lately than before. He actually thought his words through before using them so there was less of his entitled rich-boy stories. I was just as rich, if not wealthier, than him and you didn’tsee me going around flaunting it. If anything, I actively hid my wealth and status. I wanted people to like me for who I was, not my money or title.

When I’d first met him he gave the impression that he bought his friendships, but the longer I knew him and the more we’d been through together, the more I realised he was a good guy under all that flashiness. He simply didn’t understand how to build a friendship without money involved because that was all he had been exposed to before joining the military. I respected him and his growth as a person. He had been humbled fast and hard, but he took it in stride and adapted to become a better person.

I had started to genuinely like the guy.

‘Yeah,’ I agreed with him sullenly. ‘What the fuck, indeed.’

A beep sounded from the holo-table which then promptly shut down. Our time was up.

‘All right, folks. Let’s wrap it up,’ said Xander. ‘There’s a lot to think about and process but we don’t have enough time. Pack light or pack nothing. Artemis’s arrival will be the perfect cover for our own escape, and I’ll sort out Reece. You have your orders, listen out for any more instructions. We’ve obtained multiple paths out of here so escaping should be a breeze.’

Yeah, right.

‘I’ll see you all bright and early. Dismissed.’

---