Page 64 of Knot my Alphas

Julian is panting and sweating by the time we reach the newly-renovated multimedia room. Despite being in pain, he smiles. A satisfied look comes over him as he gazes at the new set-up.

I feel my own heart fluttering with excitement.

The creamy white walls of the room match the white and gray-colored equipment. Everything is brand new and updated. It’s a wonderland for a tech junkie like me.

“It’s gorgeous,” I breathe, staring all around me.

“You’re practically drooling,” Julian says with a chuckle. “I’d hoped to see this same expression when I got you the designer gowns and handbags.”

“Oh, come on!” I gush. “These are pieces of art that can synch with all your devices.” Gesturing toward the five massive display monitors that take up two walls, I add, “You can watch the feeds on your phone even if you’re not home. Gowns and jewelry can never compare to this awesomeness.

“I guess you’re right,” he says, his face shining with pride. “How about we get started with our search?” Lowering himself down on a chair, he pulls himself close to a desktop computer.

“Now?” I whisper.

“Yep.” He switches on the computer.

I pull up a chair and settle down beside him.

The computer boots up in mere seconds and blinks with a window asking for the password.

Leaning in, Julian types out the key and sits back.

Instead of clicking on any of the icons on the desktop, he opens the command window and starts typing in codes. I sit beside him, watching as several folders appear on the screen.

“Twenty years ago, right?” he mutters, scrolling through the folders.

“Yeah,” I say.

“Can you guess what sort of post he held?” he asks, keeping his gaze on the screen.

“The decorations on his uniform looked quite elaborate,” I say. “He must’ve been a high-ranking official but I have no idea about his exact rank.”

“That’s not too much of a problem,” he mutters, typing out a few commands.

Soon, a folder with several PDF documents opens up before us. Clicking on one of them, he says, “You must identify the man you saw in that painting,” he says in a low, grim tone. “Think you can do that?”

“Yeah,” I say, leaning closer to the screen.

He opens one of the PDF files. “This is the list of deceased personnel who held ranks as officers and above,” he says, moving away from the screen. “Scroll through them and look at their photographs carefully.”

I nod and pull my chair closer to the screen.

My heart beats a fast, dull beat as I stare at photographs of strange men and women in military uniforms. All their personal information is listed on the right side along with their dates of death.

I scroll through the list, finally stopping at a familiar-looking face.

“Is that him?” Julian asks, peering from the side.

I nod, staring at the man who has the same eyes as me. We even share the same shape of lips. He’s the very same man I saw standing next to Rosamond in the painting.

“Captain Hale James Burton,” Julian reads aloud.

“They don’t mention how he died,” I say as my gaze roves over the rest of the information.

Julian pulls his chair closer to the desktop. “I’ll find that out,” he says in a grim tone, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he types out more commands. “Now that we know who he is, we have direction. It’s been twenty years, so it won’t be difficult to find people who’d been alive at the time.”

A new folder opens up on the screen before us.

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