Page 63 of Deceive Me
The skin around Elliot’s eyes tightened.
“What is it?”
She turned to look out the window. “I don’t have much positive experience with people giving themselves ranks that aren’t their own.”
Dain had said the group she’d been sent to as a teen was run by an ex-general. When she’d told him the story about losing her virginity, he’d assumed she was in a foster home. What kind of punishment had the general enforced that would cause a teenage girl to swear off sex for years?
His stomach turned at the possibilities running through his mind.
“Where you grew up…what was the head honcho’s name?” The bastard needed investigating.
A shiver traveled down Elliot’s body, the small tell quickly suppressed. “General Ingram.”
“What was his first name?”
She blinked. The fog of memory cleared from her eyes. “General.”
He searched the side of her face that he could see. Dead serious. “You know I can find him, don’t you?”
“Then you’ll find I’m telling the truth. If he had any other name, we never knew it.” She shrugged. “We had a running bet that he’d had his name legally changed.”
That was when her lip twitched. No more than a millimeter, but he caught it. Wondered what she would do if he pulled her over Sydney’s seat and nipped that lip in punishment.
Luckily their arrival at GFS rescued him from his own instincts. All three SUVs were vetted and inspected before security allowed them through, a fact that eased some of the tension that had run continually beneath the surface for the last few weeks. It wasn’t an ideal location for a child, and Sydney would be confined more than he would like, but she would be safe. He just had to figure out how to make sure she stayed that way. They couldn’t live here on the compound forever.
Dain parked in front of the main office. Saint and Jack pulled their respective vehicles in on either side of his. As they exited, Deacon told Dain, “I want Fionn’s wound checked out, make sure it’s healing properly. Can you take everyone inside? Amelia will be at the front desk. Everything is all set up; she’ll show you to our quarters.”
“Sure.”
Jack and Con got out just long enough to shake hands. Deacon thanked them both for the escort. There was no way to know if Mansa would resort to taking out one or more of their vehicles, so the logistical support was greatly appreciated.
Elliot came up beside him as he lifted Sydney out of her seat. “Go with Ell, okay?” he told his daughter. “I’m going to take care of Fionn, and then I’ll be right over.” He also wanted to check in on Trapper, make sure his teammate was up to speed on the latest. If Trap was well enough, they’d bring him onto the team in a support capacity while they were here. It would be good for the man to have something to occupy him besides therapy.
Elliot held out her arms to Syd. “Ready, baby?”
Sydney flung herself willingly into Elliot’s arms, no hesitation, no concerns, just pure acceptance. He envied her in that moment, the innocence that she possessed—would possess for a long time if he had anything to say about it. He leaned close, breathing in the combination of her almost-baby scent and Elliot’s heated femininity. When he lifted his head from kissing his daughter, his gaze met Elliot’s, and he could read the echo of his desire to kiss her in those blue depths.
How could this woman affect him so deeply? He wanted to kiss her, wanted to see her laugh, wanted her lost to desire beneath him—and still didn’t know if he could forgive her, if the trust they needed could be restored. The warring parts of himself threatened his equilibrium when he needed it most, which was why, instead of giving in, he stepped back. “I’ll be over in a few.”
The disappointment in Elliot’s face followed him across the compound.
“Trapper, then the doc,” he said to Fionn as they walked toward the medical building.
“You know I’m not needing any more docs poking at me,” Fionn groused.
“Do it anyway.” Deacon used his commander voice, the one that brooked no argument. Fionn was still mumbling curses under his breath as security watched them swipe their badges and place palms on the fingerprint scanner. No more than thirty seconds and they were waved through.
Inside, many of the offices were empty, the usual clutter of rushing humans absent during the lunchtime pall. Fionn led the way, giving Deacon time to assess the way his friend held himself, observe any unconscious concessions to pain. His appraisal was cut short by a small figure hurtling around the corner of the T-junction just ahead of them and slamming into Fionn’s side.
“Bat Girl?”
“Fionn?” Owlish eyes blinked up at Fionn, then switched to Deacon. “Sir, um…” Again the side-to-side glance. “What are you two doing here?”
Fionn cocked his head. “What’s the story, Sheppard?”
“Nothing. Just…you know…nothing.” Her shrug reminded him of a marionette getting jerked around. “What brings you guys back so soon?”
“We’re having to change base camps,” Deacon told her absently. Behind the glasses, Sheppard’s eyes were red, her hands were shaking, and her normally pale skin was vampire-white. Her voice was high and strained. Something had definitely upset the little tech. “We wanted to stop by and see Trapper and Doc Hicks.”
