“Other than the fact that you are capable of doing the same kind of psychic surgery as your brother.”
“He’ll find out. I would like to keep that from all of them, but he’s going to ask questions, and when he does, you can’t lie to him. I’m asking you not to volunteer the information, but we can’t lie to him. For one thing, he deserves our respect, and for another, he would know. He’s got some kind of built-in lie detector.”
“Is he a fair man?”
“I wouldn’t follow him if he wasn’t,” Diego confirmed.
Leila was used to being around soldiers who were enhanced genetically. But she didn’t have the experience with those who had psychic abilities. She believed most people had capabilities they hadn’t developed but sometimes felt or even acted on in a limited manner. She certainly had moments when she knew things. She’d tried very hard to develop those traits, but she had the advantageof hearing about the GhostWalkers and their extraordinary abilities.
Diego’s commanding officer approached the porch, Luther pacing easily at his side, showing that his wounds were healed, and despite his age, he could easily keep up with the younger man.
Leila tried to remain relaxed when Joe and Luther came straight up onto the porch. Luther awkwardly patted her shoulder.
“I was worried about you, girl. I didn’t make it to your sister in time. I’m sorry. Luckily, we’ll be able to track her. It was good to hear Diego had gotten to you before those men took you to a helicopter.”
She glanced at Diego. She thought Luther would have been told the men had no intention of getting her to the helicopter.
“Those men had decided not to get her to the helicopter, Luther,” Joe said. “Unfortunately, some of the soldiers who are enhanced physically can’t handle the aggressive traits.”
Luther didn’t have to have it spelled out for him. His entire demeanor changed. He took a step back and turned his attention to Diego. “You took care of this?”
“I did. I’m sure that’s what is putting Joe in an impossible situation,” Diego acknowledged.
“Not impossible,” Joe murmured and flashed Leila a charming smile. “I’m Joe Spagnola. It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
She could see how easily others would succumb to his charisma. “Just Leila, please,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t ask her questions.
Joe perched on the railing across from her. “Luther gave me a few details, and Rubin has provided a few more, but Diego, there are gaps. Big ones. I’ll need everything, no surprises when I take this to the general and demand a meeting with Chariot.”
“I’ll do my best,” Diego said.
It was all Leila could do not to look at him. She had the feeling this was going to be bad. Diego had been adamant that no onecould find out about his surgical abilities, but instinctively she knew that this man would never stop until he uncovered every secret. Luther wouldn’t have told him a thing. She had no intentions of revealing anything Diego had done for her, but she had the feeling Diego’s loyalty to the man would be his downfall.
15
“I understand Leila had been shot when they carried her up the mountain.” Joe made it a statement. “Let’s start with that. She went down. What did you do?”
Diego felt the presence of his brother. Rubin always knew when there might be trouble. He’d had all those years of their mother abusing Diego. He’d developed an instinct for knowing when Diego was in trouble, just as Diego had that same instinct when Rubin needed him.
Joe scowled and turned slightly so he was able to spot Rubin’s approach. Ezekiel moved onto the porch and stood at the farthest end from them. Joe sent him a long look before turning a thoughtful gaze on Diego. He remained silent, but Diego had the feeling just having Rubin and Ezekiel move close tipped Joe off that there was quite a bit he didn’t know. That wasn’t a good thing.
“I saw Luther had taken a hit. There appeared to be two different factions there. There were the ones that took Bridget and theones that went after Leila. I had no idea who they were or what they wanted. They were already shooting at the women and Luther when I arrived. I needed to know and understand as much as I could, and it was necessary to ensure Luther wasn’t in a bad way. I noted the direction of the teams taking the women. I had placed a tracking device into each of them, so I was certain we would be able to find them if the teams managed to get them away before I could go after them.”
Joe nodded and continued looking directly at him. “I take it you caught up to Luther.”
“Rubin and I had been with Luther over the years and knew some of his bolt-holes. I tracked him to one of them, and he told me that Leila and Bridget were his nieces. Well, great-nieces. When his nephew died, the girls were supposed to go to him, but they were taken by General Pillar. Bridget was given to Whitney, and Chariot retained custody of Leila.”
At that point, Joe turned his attention to Leila. “Were you enhanced and trained as a soldier?”
“I was enhanced and trained as an assassin. I was never part of the teams. I lived in a separate building.”
“You never volunteered at any point or signed papers?” Joe prompted.
She shook her head.
Joe turned his attention back to Diego. “Luther had been shot.” He made it a statement. “You were able to patch him up enough that you sent him after Bridget?”
“He is a doctor,” Rubin said. “You don’t need to sound so skeptical. He went through med school the same as we all did.”
