Cotter looked him square in the eye and said, “It means if you’re a fast runner, you’ll be really fast. If you’re good at combat, you’ll be even better. If this drug therapy works, we will ultimately be able to send less men and women into battle. With these special strike squads, we can stop wars before they even break out.”
“And you and the General will be in charge of them?”
“Yes.”
“And if Mankel gets his hands on that intel, if he learns how to make his own?” Merc could feel his blood pressure rising.
“Then God help us all.” Cotter shook off his dazed expression and rose from the bed. “We have to call off the party. I have to talk to my daughter, find out the truth.”
“No. She needs to operate under the assumption that we are all ignorant of her identity, at least until Mankel shows his ugly face.” Merc shoved his broken heart down to the deepest pit of his conscious and focused on the mission.
“But she needs to know the truth,” Cotter said.
“After we capture Mankel, you’ll have the rest of your life to play catch up with her. Until then, keep your distance. She’ll know something’s up the minute she sees your face,” Merc said.
Cotter kept going, oblivious to the fact Merc skated the edge of control. “I’m the only one who could tell for certain whether it’s Caroline or not.”
Merc strode to the door, ignoring Cotter’s protest. He’d be able to find out. He’d had her at her most vulnerable. He knew how to get her guard down.
Just like she’d exploited his weakness for her, Merc would do the same. Although touching her now would shred his already ruined heart, he knew she couldn’t fake her reaction to his touch.
Even if she’d faked everything else.
“I want someone in this room to have eyes on the Senator and his daughter at all times.” Merc stood back while Hunter issued orders. “Merc, you take the girl. Ethan, you take the Senator. Hoyt and Jared, monitor the cameras from the control room. I want to know if you see any suspicious behavior – and I mean anything got it?”
Hoyt nodded and left the room.
Hunter continued, “Ranger, I want you and Aaron at the entryway checking every single person that comes through the front door tonight.”
“Senator, you picked a hell of a time to throw a party,” Ranger said.
“If they haven't personally been invited by the Senator tonight, they don't enter this house. Got it?” Hunter continued.
“Got it.” Ranger stood, Aaron following his lead.
“Keep a close eye on the General, okay? I don't know what it is about him, but something's not quite right.”
“You got it.”
