Page 5 of Married to the SEAL
“Is he?”
“How dare you suggest such a thing?”
“He’s a legend, and one of the most influential leaders of this century. But he’s also old. You know as well as I do there is open speculation about his health.”
“From the opposition, yes. But not from within his own camp.”
“You resent them bringing in an outsider.”
“Yes.”
Matteo was failing the security advisor’s test, and he knew it. The other man’s disdain permeated the car like a bad smell.
“Your only responsibility is to protect the president’s daughter. You would be wise to keep your political ideations to yourself.”
“Why does she need protecting?”
“That’s not important.”
Matteo leaned forward in his seat. “I need to be in the loop. I need to know what you know.”
“These matters are of the highest security clearance.”
“And I’ve been brought in by the highest-ranking security official in this country, who’s trusting me with his daughter. Don’t you think that warrants some consideration on your part?”
The men faced off. After a beat, the security advisor looked down at his hat. “Someone broke into the presidential mansion. They gained access to Grace’s son’s room and left a threatening note.”
“What did it say?”
“Bastard.”
“You’ve kept the birth out of the news?”
“Completely.”
“Someone knows. How did they compromise the existing security?”
“We don’t know. Anyone who could have been responsible for the breach has been let go.”
“Which means you have all new people working there. That’s dangerous in and of itself. Who’s the father?”
“Grace has chosen to keep that information to herself. We can only speculate. Before leaving for Switzerland, she was known to have been dating Mason Petrovich. On the surface he is an upstanding businessman, but our intelligence agency believes he works for Ten Komanda.”
“What’s that?”
“It loosely translates toshadow team. They’re a covert organization. Little is known about them, except they work for the highest bidder doing the unimaginable. We believe they are responsible for the explosion that brought on the pedestrian bridge collapse, but we can’t prove it.”
“You said you didn’t know who did it.”
“I have been working for the first family my entire career. I’ve watched Grace grow up from a baby herself.” He took a deep breath. “You were right when you said you needed full disclosure to take care of the presidential family. I have decided to give it to you.”
“Why?”
The slightest shine on the other man’s eyes told Matteo there was real emotion there. He knew General Talia had a long history with the Vasile family. Clearly they were close.
“Because I can’t save them myself,” said Talia.
“Is Grace aware of Petrovich’s associations?”
