“Out of curiosity, do you condone the breeding program Whitney has devised for the women he continues to hold prisoner?” Logan asked. “Is there justification for that program?” His tone had gone mild once more, a soft, compelling inquiry that invited a real answer.
Gifts. Psychic gifts that had been developed until they were razor-sharp. Pillar talked about the soldiers saving lives, but he didn’t understand how powerful they were. The program he oversaw dealt only with physical genetics. He had no understanding of what someone with enhanced psychic abilities could really do.
“Obviously, Dr. Whitney is a brilliant man. He’s a genius beyond compare. I fear, with all of his success, the constant pressure to produce more, and the continual persecution he faces every day despite his contributions, Whitney’s mental state may have deteriorated. He has so many enemies. He oversees several labs, and twice now the men he trusted violated that trust and tried to build their own army for their own gain. A woman he trusted sold out the program to a monster. He’s under tremendous pressure, and yet he continues to find ways to aid our soldiers.”
“He’s sacrificing children, and now he’s forcing women into cages where men rape them in order to produce the babies he wants,” Logan said. “You know that is true. I can’t imagine that you’re not keeping your eye on him.”
For the first time, Pillar looked disconcerted, the lines in hisface deep. “I tried to talk to him, but he’s become extremely reclusive. He believes he has a massive target on him, and he’s not wrong. He moves around all the time, which makes it more difficult for him to continue with his brilliant work. That frustrates him and adds to his paranoia.”
“Knowing what he’s doing, you still aided him in getting Bridget back,” Joe said. “You sent her back knowing her fate.”
Pillar’s head went up. A muscle jerked in his jaw. “The woman has problems, and he needed to ensure she was looked after properly.”
Leila’s breath hissed out in a slow show of pure anger. “The reason my sister has problems is because that man experimented on her and removed the filters from her brain. He created the problem.”
“And he’s doing his best to rectify it. Who else will be able to help her?” Pillar demanded. “I suggest that you stop your drama and return to your unit.”
Operation Night-Night is a success. Package safe and secure.
The absent members of Diego’s GhostWalker team checked in, allowing those confronting General Pillar to carry out their mission.
“Leila will be going with us,” Joe said. “So will Grace. There will be no charges brought against her or any GhostWalker. When you choose to create soldiers such as those of us in this room, men and women with altered DNA and enhanced psychic gifts, you are risking far more than you know. We are patriots. We joined the service and volunteered to be enhanced. We worked at learning to control the DNA in us and strengthen our abilities so we could better serve. Again, we are patriots, but we have a strict code we live by. That code is one of honor, and we take it very seriously. We believe in protecting those who can’t protect themselves. We don’t condone or allow men to rape women or experiment on children or adults. We weren’t created for those purposes. We were created to ensure itdoesn’t happen. We’re sent into the field to stop atrocities. We certainly aren’t going to condone them here in our own country.”
Pillar looked around the room. “Are you threatening me? Because it sounded very much like you were.”
“We are ghosts, General. We can walk unseen through walls. You watched us come into this room, and you believe your eyes. You believe that those seated at the table with you are the only ones here. I’m telling you that you’re wrong. There are GhostWalkers unseen in this room. Every soldier you brought with you that you ordered concealed has been incapacitated. Your men aren’t lying there with rifles aimed at our heads. My men are aiming at yours.”
Pillar sent a wild look around the room and then, tellingly, looked up toward the ceiling and across toward the upper-story mezzanine. “Ted?” He appealed to General Ranier.
Joe continued relentlessly. “Grace has been recovered and will go with us. Leila will go with us. In return, she won’t go to the press, and we won’t make public the experiments being carried out by our government. And you won’t receive a visit in the middle of the night. You can retire with your career and reputation intact.”
“You can’t do this. You’re a soldier, and I order you to stand down. To turn Leila Fenton over to me.”
“You cannot give me orders, General,” Joe stated. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re a disgrace to your uniform. You condone the kinds of horrific experiments that the United States condemned in other countries. You’ve stated in no uncertain terms that you believe it is perfectly reasonable for children to be experimented on. Logan recounted a small number of the atrocities your friend Whitney carried out, and you stated those were necessary. It is on record, but I can assure you that record won’t see the light of day. Resign. Do it immediately. We’re done here.”
For the first time, Chariot stood. “My wife? She was with Gracie.”
“Your wife is perfectly fine. We don’t make a habit of going after innocents. If you have any influence over General Pillar, now would be a good time to use it.”
“Bradley,” General Ranier said. “Resign. These men are lethal, and you don’t ever want to be in their sights. You’re getting off easy.”
Pillar sagged. Sat down.
He realizes he helped create us, and he doesn’t stand a chance against us. He got what he wished for, he just didn’t realize he would suffer the consequences, Diego told Leila as they stood to leave.
17
Other than the heat and humidity reminding her she didn’t need to be pinched, Leila felt as if she were in fantasyland. A fairy tale. Gracie was excited to meet other children, and Wyatt’s triplets instantly adored her. Ginger, Cannelle and Thym hovered over Gracie, seeing to her every want.
“That child is going to be spoiled in no time,” she observed, happiness blossoming. Tears burned behind her eyes. This was exactly what she wanted for her daughter. People who accepted her. Would love her. Friends she could play with.
Diego had warned her that the triplets carried venom in their bite, but they all knew better than to bite. Trap and Wyatt had developed an antidote. She admitted to herself she was a little anxious and watched them carefully, but so far, the three little girls had been loving and protective.
“No need to worry about spoilin’ a child with too much love,” Grace “Nonny” Fontenot assured, a smile on her face as she watched the interaction of the children in the play yard. “Therereally is no such thing. Lovin’ them and at the same time givin’ firm boundaries will see to it that your child will grow up healthy and responsible.”
Diego laughed. “Seriously, Nonny? You’re going to say that with a straight face? You have those boys to raise, and I can tell you, they’re wild as hell.”
Leila gasped and nudged him.Don’t say “hell” to her.
