She pulled the ear buds out of her ears. “You’re late. I thought we were going to meet earlier.”
Gracie glowed and grinned. “ I already got my workout out in….the old-fashioned way. Besides, my appointment was pushed back an hour, so I went and visited with Dad first to support you taking a short leave.”
Tara swiped the sweat from her forehead and moved to the ice chest filled with water bottles. Grabbing a bottle, she pressed it from her overheated cheeks down to her chest. She was happy for Gracie. Hell, her best friend had been through enough, and as much as Tara enjoyed spending time with her, she had a life to get back to that had been put on hold for God knows how long. “Thanks for talking to your dad. I know I can’t be gone long in case of an attack, and I’ll still be coming back…but, this is important to me.”
“You know…since you’re going to be here a bit longer, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to find a better outlet for all your stress. I happen to know of a sexy twin that wouldn’t mind…helping you exercise .”
“Not gonna happen,” Tara said as she walked off to her room to shower and change for the meeting and her trip.
****
Tara bypassed the conference room, hoping to find the General in his office. She needed to explain that she was leaving with or without his permission. She tapped on the door and hoped that Gracie’s talk had helped him to understand.
“Enter.”
The General was on the phone and motioned to a chair before resuming his conversation. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry to hear that.” The General rubbed his hand over his shiny bald head. “I’ve already been informed of all the problems Tara has had since she came here.” He nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll make sure it’s taken care of.”
Hanging up the phone, the General squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again.
“Please don’t tell me that was my mother.”
He shook his head . “Not your mother…your grandmother. She insists that you need to go home.” The General leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers in front of him. “And I agree.” He held up his hand. “I’ll give you two days to get everything in order, but only two days, and you have got to get your butt back here.”
The tension in her shoulders drained. She stood. “Thank you, sir. I’ll get the first flight out.”
The General motioned to the chair. “Have a seat, Tara. I said you can go, but it will be on my terms. Since the day you arrived, Lydia’s vision of the fight with Black was altered. You’re presence isn’t in question. You will be there when we take down Black and with that being said, you’re an integral part of this operation, and I’m concerned about your safety.”
“I’ll be fine. I thought I proved that last night.”
He held up his hand, stopping her mid-sentence. “You proved that you need a partner to watch your back. I’ve already spoken with Brody. After everything that happened last night...”
She propped her hand s on the back of the chair. “Listen, General, I think it’s time we both lay our cards on the table. I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked without putting up a fight and I did it for Gracie. I put my life on hold and played my part. But, realistically, if you think about it, when I leave Lydia might get a different vision that doesn’t include me at all. If that happens, will you be sending me home or will you still require me to return?” Tara slid back down into the chair and crossed her legs.
The General assessed her with his gaze.
Tara leaned back and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Sir…”
“Tara, Lydia said that you’re here when Black attacks. We can’t risk anything physically happening to you or altering the vision of our success. Until she tells me otherwise, you’re just going to have to trust that I know what’s best.”
“But, sir.”
He shook his head. “You’ll go with an escort or not at all,” he demanded in
Gracie glowed and grinned. “ I already got my workout out in….the old-fashioned way. Besides, my appointment was pushed back an hour, so I went and visited with Dad first to support you taking a short leave.”
Tara swiped the sweat from her forehead and moved to the ice chest filled with water bottles. Grabbing a bottle, she pressed it from her overheated cheeks down to her chest. She was happy for Gracie. Hell, her best friend had been through enough, and as much as Tara enjoyed spending time with her, she had a life to get back to that had been put on hold for God knows how long. “Thanks for talking to your dad. I know I can’t be gone long in case of an attack, and I’ll still be coming back…but, this is important to me.”
“You know…since you’re going to be here a bit longer, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to find a better outlet for all your stress. I happen to know of a sexy twin that wouldn’t mind…helping you exercise .”
“Not gonna happen,” Tara said as she walked off to her room to shower and change for the meeting and her trip.
****
Tara bypassed the conference room, hoping to find the General in his office. She needed to explain that she was leaving with or without his permission. She tapped on the door and hoped that Gracie’s talk had helped him to understand.
“Enter.”
The General was on the phone and motioned to a chair before resuming his conversation. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry to hear that.” The General rubbed his hand over his shiny bald head. “I’ve already been informed of all the problems Tara has had since she came here.” He nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll make sure it’s taken care of.”
Hanging up the phone, the General squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again.
“Please don’t tell me that was my mother.”
He shook his head . “Not your mother…your grandmother. She insists that you need to go home.” The General leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers in front of him. “And I agree.” He held up his hand. “I’ll give you two days to get everything in order, but only two days, and you have got to get your butt back here.”
The tension in her shoulders drained. She stood. “Thank you, sir. I’ll get the first flight out.”
The General motioned to the chair. “Have a seat, Tara. I said you can go, but it will be on my terms. Since the day you arrived, Lydia’s vision of the fight with Black was altered. You’re presence isn’t in question. You will be there when we take down Black and with that being said, you’re an integral part of this operation, and I’m concerned about your safety.”
“I’ll be fine. I thought I proved that last night.”
He held up his hand, stopping her mid-sentence. “You proved that you need a partner to watch your back. I’ve already spoken with Brody. After everything that happened last night...”
She propped her hand s on the back of the chair. “Listen, General, I think it’s time we both lay our cards on the table. I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked without putting up a fight and I did it for Gracie. I put my life on hold and played my part. But, realistically, if you think about it, when I leave Lydia might get a different vision that doesn’t include me at all. If that happens, will you be sending me home or will you still require me to return?” Tara slid back down into the chair and crossed her legs.
The General assessed her with his gaze.
Tara leaned back and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Sir…”
“Tara, Lydia said that you’re here when Black attacks. We can’t risk anything physically happening to you or altering the vision of our success. Until she tells me otherwise, you’re just going to have to trust that I know what’s best.”
“But, sir.”
He shook his head. “You’ll go with an escort or not at all,” he demanded in
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