Out of Time

14

I shifted in the fake leather chair, tapping my foot in a rhythm that even I didn’t recognize. All I knew was the longer I sat here, staring at the receptionist as she typed on her computer, the more impatient I got. If the receptionist sighed and clicked her mouse one more time, I might throw the damn thing out the window.

I’d gotten here at oh-eight-hundred sharp, but when I arrived on base, no one had known what the hell I was doing there. It wasn’t a drill weekend—which I already knew—and no one else had been called in for duty. After a few phone calls, they’d sent me to this office, and I’d been counting fucking sheep in my head ever since.

Oh, and it wasn’t my commanding officer who wanted to see me. It was Captain Richards who wanted me, aka the commanding officer of the whole fucking company. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what he might want. I checked my watch, frowning when I saw it was already noon. How long were they going to leave me here doing shit?

The receptionist sighed and clicked again, and I narrowed my eyes at her. She wore pearls and a gray dress, and those glasses that women seemed to wear when they wanted to look smart. Her red lips were pursed, and she tapped her manicured nails on the mahogany desk.

The inactivity was getting to me. I didn’t do sitting well, and I’d been sitting all damn morning. I was this close to lying on the floor to do a round of push-ups when the office door opened.

Captain Richards stepped out, and I stood at attention, saluting him and waiting for him to speak to me first, staring straight ahead at nothing.

“Sergeant, thank you for coming on your off weekend,” he said.

I didn’t move a muscle. “Good afternoon, sir.”

Captain Richards studied my posture before stepping to the side. “At ease, sergeant. You may come in.”

“Thank you, sir.” I relaxed fractionally and nodded to him as I headed his way. “And I’m more than happy to be at your service.”

Even if I had no clue what that service was.

He followed me in and shut the door behind us, making his way to his desk. “Well, you’re probably wondering what you’re here for.” Captain Richards sat down behind his desk, motioning for me to sit in the wood chair in front of it. “And why I wanted to see you.”

I perched on the edge of the chair, keeping my back straight. “I will admit to a certain level of curiosity, sir.”

“Tell me, sergeant.” Captain Richards rested his elbows on his desk and steepled his fingers. “Do you like being a Marine?”

“Of course, sir.”

“Excellent.” He tapped his fingers together, really slowly. “Where do you see yourself in ten years?”

Well, if that wasn’t a loaded question I’d never heard one.

A few months ago, before Carrie, I would have had an easy answer. I’d be a Marine, and I’d still be guarding Senator Wallington. But now? It wasn’t so clear-cut. In ten years, I’d hopefully still be with Carrie. Maybe we’d be married? Shit, I didn’t know.

And more importantly? Why the hell did he care?

I cleared my throat. “I would imagine I’ll be working in security, sir. Maybe something to do with computers. I’ve been thinking about getting my degree.”

“What is your MOS now?”

“I’m a mortar man, sir.”

“A grunt.” He arched a brow. “So you want to go from infantry to a commissioned officer? Is that correct?”

“It’s quite possibly my goal, yes, sir.” I shifted in my chair, clutching my knees. “I’ve recently re-evaluated my life, sir, and am in the midst of trying to figure it out.”

“Ah.” His jaw squared off. “What caused this re-evaluation, if I might ask?”

My heartbeat thumped in my ears, louder than drums. “Sir? Why do you ask, if you don’t mind my asking?”

His eyes narrowed on me. He was pulling rank on me. I knew it before he even opened his mouth. “Answer my questions, and maybe I’ll answer yours.”

“Sir, yes, sir.” I cleared my throat, hating the fact that I had to sit here like a puppet while this man interrogated me, but it came with the dog tags. Obedience. Discipline. Respect. “I met a girl, sir.”

“Might I ask this girl’s name?” The captain reclined in his seat and crossed his ankle over his knee. “I do believe I’m acquainted with her father.”

I must’ve blacked out for a second. God knows I felt as if he punched me in the fucking chest. He knew Senator Wallington? Well, there you go. Now I knew why I was here. Her father knew and sent me into a situation where I couldn’t possibly lie.

God damn it.

I tried to remain calm on the outside, even if I was flipping the fuck out on the inside. “You know the Wallingtons, sir?”

“I do. Carrie is a sweet girl.” He looked out the window for a second, then turned those piercing brown eyes back on me. “I’ve known her since she was in diapers.”

I nodded, but didn’t say anything.

“You’re probably curious how I know.”

I shifted on the seat. “Yes, sir.”

“Her father asked me to track you. To make sure you were doing your job.” Captain Richards eyed me. “Do you feel you’re doing a good job, sergeant?”

“I feel she wouldn’t be safer with anyone else watching her, sir.” I met his eyes, refusing to flinch or back down. “I would guard her with my life.”

“Would you do that even if you didn’t love her?”

“Yes, sir.” I tapped my fingers on my knees, but made myself stop. “It’s my job. I take that responsibility very seriously.”

“So if you were to guard another young woman, one whom you didn’t love, you would still guard her to the best of your abilities?”

I blinked at him. “Yes, sir. I would.”

“I heard about what you did when Carrie was almost robbed. Those were some impressive moves.”

My cheeks heated up. “I was simply doing my job, sir.”

“My man came home right afterward to tell me how impressed he was.” Captain Richards raised his brow. “Keep in mind, he’s a black belt in karate, among other things.”

I bit down on my tongue, trying to figure out where the hell he was going with this. “I’m flattered, sir.”

“Does her father know you love her?”

I swallowed hard. “No, sir.”

“Why not?”

“We’re waiting, sir.” I gripped my knees even tighter. “My father is about to retire, and Carrie and I decided to hold off until after the fact.”

“Ah.” He nodded, his lips pursed in thought. “You’re afraid he will withhold funds from your father?”

“Yes, sir,” I admitted, sweat dripping down the back of my neck and rolling under the collar of my cammies. I wanted to yank at the collar, but I sat perfectly still. “That was our fear.”

“Our fear?” He eyed me. “Carrie is in on this?”

Should I deny it? I didn’t want her to catch any flak for my lies. But this was a captain in the Marines. I couldn’t fucking lie. It’s not the way the military worked. “Sir, I’d rather not say.”

He considered me. “You’re protecting her?”

“Sir.” I didn’t say anything else, but I didn’t need to. My point was clear. I wouldn’t be saying another word against the woman I loved.

He chuckled under his breath. “You know, I think he would approve if he saw you protecting her from me of all people.”

I inclined my head. “Is this why I’m here, sir? Are you going to tell him about us before my father retires?”

“What?” He shook his head. “No. He doesn’t know about you. But I do.”

I wanted to ask him how or why, but it wasn’t my place. This wasn’t the civilian life where I was entitled to answers. Here, I got them if and when I deserved to hear them. “You’re a smart man, captain.”

“Indeed. You know what else I know?”

I’d love to fucking know. “Sir?”

“I believe you love her, and would do anything to protect her.” He leaned forward again. The man was more fidgety than a fucking teenager. “Somewhere along the way, you fell for her, and she fell for you. Am I right?”

I tensed. It was none of his business. “Sir.”

“You don’t have to treat me as an enemy, son.” He stood up and walked over to the window. “I have a proposition for you.”

“I’d love to hear it, sir.”

I wanted to get up and pace as I waited, but I sat on the chair like a fucking invalid. And worse? I felt like one. This man knew all of my secrets, and he didn’t hesitate to air them in front of me like dirty laundry.

“Did you know how hard it is to get out of the infantry? Lots try, but it takes a hell of a long time and a lot of letters of recommendation.”

“I did know it wouldn’t be an easy move, yes.”

I bit down on my tongue to keep from asking what his point was. If I couldn’t make the move, then I’d get out. Go civilian. I’d thought it through. I had a plan.

I wasn’t an idiot.

“I can help you make the move you need. One signature from me, and you’re moving up the ranks.” He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “It would be a simple matter.”

I stiffened. I think I had an idea where this was going. “Sir…”

“Your unit is up for deployment soon,” he said, cocking his head. “You will go overseas, away from Carrie, if you don’t accept my help.”

“I’m flattered and honored for the offer, sir,” I said through my teeth. “However, with all due respect, I’d like to hear the cost of this favor before I accept.”

Because everything came with a price.

And if he said what I thought he was going to say, it would take all my self-control not to punch him in the mouth, fucking C.O. or not.

He nodded. “You’re a smart boy. I like that about you.”

“Thank you, sir,” I said stiffly.

“The cost isn’t much.” He uncrossed his arms. “Stop seeing Carrie.”

I stood up, rage making me see red. I’d known—known—this is what he would say, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to punch him in the fucking face. “No, thank you, sir.”

I only made it one step to the door before he spoke again. “Don’t you dare leave my office without leave, sergeant. You will hear me out. Sit down, boy.”

I clenched my fists and turned back, sitting even though I didn’t want to. “With all due respect, sir, I will not accept those terms. I will stop seeing Carrie if she asks me to. Other than that, I am not open to discussion.”

“Not even to advance your own life?”

I clenched my fists so tight if hurt. “Not even to save my own life, sir.”

“Good.” He sat back down, his lips pressed tight. “Now that that’s out of the way, let’s move on to the real proposition.”

I blinked at him. “Sir?”

“I wanted to make sure you really love her before I offered you this opportunity.” He picked up his coffee mug, which said World’s Best Daddy on it, and took a sip. “You obviously do, so I feel comfortable in offering you the chance of a lifetime.”

“You’re saying you were testing me?”

“Indeed. And you passed.” He set the mug down. “Now we can talk business.”

I stood up again. “Sir, what do you want from me?”

“I want you to sit down.”

For a second, I considered walking out. Not sitting. But the years of military discipline wouldn’t fucking let me. So I sat. “Sir.”

“I’ll tell you everything. It involves doing something similar to what you’re doing now, but with a huge reward.”

“And what would that be, sir?”

He pursed his lips. “You’ll find out. But first?” He picked up a pen and shoved a piece of paper at me. “Sign on the dotted line.”

I eyed the paper. “I don’t sign anything without reading it first, sir.”

“Then by all means, read it.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his fingers over his stomach. “I’ll wait.”

I picked up the paper, scanning it quickly. By the time I was finished, I looked up at him, my eyes wide. This was a mission. A huge mission I didn’t think I should be reading about, hence the top-secret security clearance application I could see sitting on the desk. “Sir, is this what I think it is?”

“It is. And I can give you all the knowledge you need to pull it off if you sign.”

I picked up the pen, hesitated, and signed on the line.