I’d always been immune to love and had assumed I’d remain so until I found her.Sitting there, though, there was nothing but pain to show for our accomplishments.What had been the point of caring, of getting away, or in any of it, if, in the end, we were to be apart?
She’s the point.I straightened at the conclusion.I saved her.
The answer floated through my mind as one of the men spoke again, but I wasn’t listening.My mind was filled with Caroline, and everything we’d already lived through.
Without me, Ian would have killed her.My lips jerked at the acknowledgement.Whatever happens to me, it was worth it.
She’sworth it.
“Commander General!”The stranger, whose introduction had already slipped my mind, snapped at me.
“Yes.”My voice was weak, the sound irritating me.
I was stronger than that, wasn’t I?Sure, being stuck in police custody was one hell of a setback, but I’d got through much worse than that.I’d navigated Ian’s evil intent for years, doing my best to keep the women in my custody alive, and, in the end, I’d managed to rescue Caroline, as well as scores of other women.I was no hero, but whatever the three officers could throw at me, I could handle it.
“We’d like to hear what you know about President Jackson’s plans for Fortorus.”
Stretching my neck, I blew out a breath at the woman’s inquiry.The growl in my head was getting louder, and given my recent run-in with a heavy decanter and Armitage’s unmet request that I see another specialist, the headache worried me.“I’ve told you.I was in charge of running the camp.There were different blocks to accommodate different groups of women and—”
“No, no.”The woman shook her head.“This, we already know.Tell us about the president’s future plans.”
“Future plans?”Tension twisted in my stomach at her inference.Did the foreign authorities know about Ian’s so-called solution to those he deemed unworthy?Was that what the interrogation was really about?
“Ja,” she continued.“We know a little of what he intends, but your help could sure up our knowledge.”
“So, let me get this straight.”I placed my palms on the metal table between us, grateful that my cuffs had been removed.“You want me to sell out my country’s state secrets by revealing the president’s plans?”
Her lips twisted.“We would prefer to call it aiding international justice, Commander General.”
Oh, I’m sure you would.
“And we’re not certain Britain is reallyyour countryanymore.”She shrugged.“After all, how would your president react to your betrayal?”
She had a good point.Ian had never been a forgiving man, and based on my decisions, he’d have likely strung me up naked from his London palace.
“He wouldn’t be happy,” I conceded.“But running and telling tales are two different things.You understand?Er denkt nicht, dass ich ein Verräter bin.I am no traitor.”
“You do not like this name.”She smiled.“I understand this, but I would say you’d prefer to tell the tales than spend a good proportion of the rest of your life behind bars in a foreign country, Commander General.”
She had me there.
“I would.”I pressed my palms together, unsure if I was just enjoying the freedom of uncuffed wrists or actually considering prayer.
“And Miss Craness,” she pressed.“You would like for her to be safe.”
“You said she’s no longer my concern.”My tone was terser than I’d intended revealing, if my previous testimony hadn’t helped them to guess already, just how much I cared for Caroline.
“Ah, yes.”Her smile stretched wider.
“This has nothing to do with her.”My hands clenched together until my fingernails dug into my palms.“She’s done nothing wrong.”
“And no harm shall come to her,” the officer replied.“She is now able to claim refugee status and shall be offered support for the things she has endured.”
I pulled in a steadying breath, hoping the air would clear my head.The outcome wasn’t the life I’d wanted for Caroline.It wasn’t the two of us together, entwined in the sexy magic we’d created, but it was something.She was alive, she was safe, and she had a shot at a future, even if that was one without me.
“Thank you.”I worked hard to keep my tone even.
“And so, to your intel.”She neatly steered the conversation back to Ian’s nefarious intentions.“Aside from what you have already told us.There is more, ja?”
