“Dad. Did he know about the promotion?”
Her father shrugged. “I guess so. I know his commander told him there would be incentives to going on the mission.”
Incentives. Had she been just another incentive?
“Emme.” Doug’s voice was earnest and she raised her gaze to his. “It’s not like it sounds.”
She wanted to believe that, but she needed to hear it from Jordan. “Excuse me, please.” She pushed back her chair and took her plate into the kitchen.
They usually didn’t video chat until later in the evening, but she’d see if he’d answer now. He had access to wifi in his room. One of the perks of being up for promotion? She shook her head. Everything he’d said and done was now in question.
What were the conditions of his promotion? Had staying in Abu Dhabi with her been one of them? She couldn’t imagine sleeping with her had been one. Maybe that was just an added perk.
She closed the door to her room and logged onto her laptop. The digital ringing filled the room, seeming to echo off the walls. She was about to click the ‘end call button’ when his smiling face appeared.
“Hey, babe. I wasn’t expecting your call for another hour. I just got done at the gym.” His brows drew together. “What’s wrong? Has something happened?”
Her pulse raced. What if he admitted it was all a game? “I hear congratulations are in order.”
He shook his head. “Congratulations for what?”
“Your promotion and command down in Savannah.”
“How did you hear about that?”
She took a shuddering breath. “Dad said one of the incentives you got for rescuing me is a promotion and command position.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Shit.”
Her heart shattered. He’d known.
“Emme, they told me there were incentives when they approached me, but all it took was Doug asking for my help.” He leaned forward, closer to the camera.
“You’re telling me you didn’t know Dad set it up to guarantee your promotion?”
“I swear I never asked what the incentives were and they never told me.”
God, she wanted to believe him. “But you know about it now?”
“I received the notification this morning.”
“I see.” She looked down at her hands, picking at the dry cuticle around her nails. “Were you going to tell me?”
“Emme, I just found out. I haven’t even had time to figure out how the hell I got selected. I wasn’t supposed to be up for promotion until next year.”
“Was I just another incentive?”
“What the fuck?”
“Was I?”
“How can you even ask that?”
Pain tore at her. “You’re not answering the question, Jordan.”
“Because I can’t believe you’re even asking it.”
“Why wouldn’t I ask it? You didn’t have to stay with me. Someone else could have. Was it to move up the ranks?”
