Page 18 of Attraction

“So, it’s not true then? You didn’t feelguiltyaboutthe lie? That you kept quiet to protecthis career,even though you had to take the fall for it.I wanted to come clean, lying didn’t sit well—boo-hoo.How could you live with it?”

“What the fuck?” she frowns as he repeats back her own words, words she’d said in confidence to her therapist. “How the hell did you see my medical notes? That’s confidential information.”

“And I told you. If it’s on a system, then it’s there to see. Oh, and just so you know, Zak said your shrink’s security was abysmal.” He laughs at the shocked look on her face. “Oh, get over it, I ran a deep dive on you, but don’t get any ideas that you’re special—I do it for everyone.”

“But that information is not part of my service records. That was a personal discussion—in a private session.”

“Maybe, but it’s part of my check on you. We don’t have secrets on this team. If you’re going to be part of it—learn not to lie. I need to know anything and everything about you. I needtotaltrust. You’re quite the bad girl, so I’d get down off that damn high horse. Let’s get things straight: this ismyteam and anything going on withmyteam comes through me first. Do you understand that?”

She sighs, taking a deep breath, and nods. “I don’t know how you got those records. This is bullshit.” Twisting around, she gets him to release his grip on her neck. As she turns, he keeps hold of the collar on her shirt. He frowns now, noticing the purple bruising on her neck, and he looks at Digby. “Did you do this?” Digby doesn’t reply, so Darius looks at Kat for the answer. “You let him do this?”

She swallows nervously and doesn’t know what to say. “No, it was a one-night-stand in a bar before coming here. It was nothing, just sex. Nothing is going on, well not with us. I mean, don’t be ridiculous, we only just met, so why would you think I’d sleep with him?” She continues to burble randomly, and he laughs.

“Wow… Fuck, you’re unbelievable. I just tell you not to lie and what do you immediately do?” Darius sighs. “I don’t give a fuck what you’ve been doing with him, but this, taking blood, that’s not happening.” He turns, looking at the sample envelopes on her desk. “Are these for my team?” Reluctantly, she nods, watching as he grabs them up from the desk, taking them with him. “You… get your fucking shirt on!” He stares at Digby, frowning. “I want you up and ready in the shoot-house in fifteen.”

Digby nods, not saying a word as Darius heads out, slamming the office door behind him.

Kat sighs, taking a deep breath, watching Digby pick up his shirt, unfold it, and slip his arms inside. Standing up, he pulls it around his shoulders. “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

She’s furious about their attitude towards her—the aggressive tone and him taking her samples, and she considers going to Edwards, but that will only make matters worse. She needs to face this down and sort it herself.

“He can’t do that—he can’t just take those samples. Ryan, this is my job! You know he doesn’t want a Medic, but he has to have one. So, what am I supposed to do now?” Taking a deep breath, she drags her hand through her hair as she tries to think. “Fuck… So, what am I going to do now?”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry, but he’s right, it’s for the best. Look, I’ve gotta go. We’ll talk later, but my best advice if you really wanna make this team? Then go to the gym, work on your strength, and regroup. Get yourself ready for this fitness test. You need to pass that as a priority, then… then you can worry about this kinda stuff. Kat, you need to trust him, and… he needs to trust you. Work on gettin’ him on-side, don’t keep goin’ up against him.”

“Trust him? What the fuck! You want me to trust him? How? He won’t even talk to me without yelling.”

“Well, stop keep pissin’ him off, or he’s just gonna keep tearin’ strips off you.”

“What, because I’m a woman?”

“No! Not for bein’ a woman, he does this to everyone. He may be an asshole, but he’s a consistent asshole.” He laughs. “Trust me, this ain’t nothin’ about your body parts, he’s just testin’ you. Kat, that’s a good thing.” He smiles, stroking her neck. “It’s good because if he wanted you gone—you’d be gone already. So, he’s givin’ you a chance. An opportunity to prove yourself to this team. It’s up to you if you take it or not.”

“This is a joke,” she says, taking a breath. “Ryan, he’s being a total-jackass. Do you want me off this team, too?” She stares, looking him in the face. “Well… do you?”

“Kat, it’s not that….”

“Oh, shut up and just get the fuck out!” She sighs, pushing him away. “Did you hear me? I said get out!”

Chapter 7

“Hey! What’s goin’ on?” Digby frowns, closing the door behind him.

Startled, Kat opens her eyes and sits bolt upright on the couch. She pulls the headphones from her ears. “Geez Ryan… I didn’t even hear you come in.”

“Yeah, that’s obvious.” He grins. “So, as I said, what’re you doin’?”

“Oh, just reading something.” She smiles and stands up. “Do you want some coffee? I was just about to make some fresh.” Placing her laptop and phone on the table, she fills the coffee machine with water. “I …. I’m going to look at a place to stay later this afternoon. Base-accom still has nothing, but there’s an apartment available just a short distance from here.” She looks over her shoulder and she can see him scanning her laptop.

“What the hell are you readin’?Afghanistan 2015, Mission Zero?What the hell is that?”

“Oh… I was just doing a little investigation—about what you do. I mean, what WOLF is involved in.”

“And you think this is it?”

“I guess? I don’t know. You tell me.”

“Well, I’ll tell you one thing… that’s not us. Kat, I don’t know what you’re lookin’ for, but it’s sure as hell not gonna be onmilitary-spies-dot-com.”

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