Chapter 18 #2
“Alright, you’re right, the story you were told isn’t the full one.
I was ordered to tell it because our mission was top secret.
Even if I’m no longer in the military, I’m obligated to keep details secret about classified missions.
Surely, you know from your brother what that means.
” I pretended not to know his background.
“I do, but it’s not because of Rodney. I served in the Navy. I was a SEAL.”
“You were? But then you know how badly even the simplest mission can go. And the one we were on was far from simple.” I let some hope enter my voice.
“I do, but that’s because most of the time, someone fucks up. And since you’re alive, it had to be you. That’s the way it usually works,” he spat out.
I knew no matter what, I couldn’t tell him that his brother had been an asshole and led us all into danger due to not following my command because I was a woman. He would never believe it, and I would open myself up to torture.
“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, but may I please have a drink of whatever. My mouth is so dry,” I pleaded.
Baker hesitated, and I thought for sure he was about to say no, but he surprised me when he said he’d be back. I needed to find a way to get myself out of these cuffs. Once that happened, my next step was to get into that bag of his to see what I might be able to use as a weapon.
Baker returned a few minutes later. His footsteps had faded away for a bit, which made me believe we were in a house and I was on the second floor.
He brought the glass to me. Even though I raised my head as far as I could, it was awkward to drink, and some spilled on my top.
I took as much as I could before he removed it.
“That’s enough.”
He set the glass down on the table and came back carrying one of the chairs. Baker placed it next to the bed and sat in it. His steely eyes bored into mine. “Start,” he ordered.
I began slowly, detailing out the mission and what we were there to achieve.
I told him the entire story I shared with Mayhem, except this one excluded any reference to his brother or the others going off mission.
When I got to the part about our capture, again, I didn’t tell him we got caught due to his stupid ass brother.
Then, I edited the retelling of what happened after we were captured.
I kept the fact that I was raped out of it, though I did say I was tortured to force the men to talk, and they hadn’t.
Finally, I shared how our captors moved on to torturing the men and how all but his brother died.
Throughout, he’d stop and ask me for more details or ask me to repeat stuff, which I did.
When I got to the part about the SEALs rescuing us, he stopped me again.
“Wait a minute. A SEAL team rescued you and Rodney?”
“Yes. He was alive, though we were both badly hurt. It was during our escape that an enemy’s bullet hit your brother.
There was nothing the SEALs could do for him.
It was a shot to the heart. He died instantly.
However, they eventually got the upper hand over the enemy and were able to wipe them out.
That’s the reason the Navy was able to recover all the bodies to bring home for burial. ”
Baker was up, pacing the room, running his hands through his hair, and shaking his head. I remained silent. Finally, he stopped and returned to the bed. He lowered his head and stared intently at me.
“God, you look so innocent. I swear, you sound and look as if you’re telling the truth.”
“I am. I didn’t get Rodney killed. It was a fluke while we were escaping.
Bullets were flying everywhere. We were running and ducking for cover wherever we could find it.
Our escape was discovered before we had even left the encampment, and the alarm was raised.
I expected us all to be killed any second.
In the end, two of the SEALs were hit, but they weren’t mortal wounds. ”
Baker eased away, but didn’t leave the side of the bed. Before he had a chance to ask me anything more, I gave him another pleading look.
“Please, I need to use the bathroom. It’s been hours, and that water I drank didn’t help.”
“Hold it,” he ordered.
“I can’t. Please, I need to go badly. I can’t concentrate anymore if I don’t go. You don’t want me pissing the bed and ruining the mattress, do you?”
That last thought made him pause. After a minute, he nodded. “Okay, but don’t think of trying anything. There’s no window in there, and I made sure nothing was left that you can use as a weapon,” he warned me.
I remained silent. Within moments, he had a key out of his pants pocket and undid the cuffs.
I slowly sat up. My head whirled. I sat and let it settle before rising shakily to my feet.
I had to hang on to the furniture and walls as he showed me out of the room and into a bathroom in the hall. I closed the door in his face.
There was a lock, but the door was so flimsy that a good kick would open it.
I didn’t bother. I took time to pee. I might as well.
As I sat on the toilet, I rubbed my wrists.
They were hurting and red from the tightness of the handcuffs.
It was imperative that I convince him to leave them off when I returned to the bed.
It wasn’t long before I was done, flushed, and had washed my hands. Opening the door, Baker was waiting right outside of it. He snagged my left elbow to guide me back to the bedroom. As we entered, I made my next request.
“May I sit up, please? Lying down is killing my back. And those cuffs are hurting my wrists. I can think better sitting.”
He contemplated it for several heartbeats before he shrugged. “Sit or whatever. I don’t give a fuck. Just don’t get any ideas. Now, I want you to tell me the truth.”
“I did. What else do you want to know?” I asked.
“Tell the truth. You broke, didn’t you? And then you used your feminine wiles and sex to have the other pilots tortured.
You wanted the other pilots dead so they couldn’t tell how you were guilty of treason.
You would’ve been court-martialed and sent to prison.
And when my brother was too strong and didn’t die, you found a way to get him killed in the firefight, making it look like an accident.
You’re a fucking viper underneath that face and body,” he hissed.
This guy was unhinged. I had no idea if he was always like this or if the death of his brother had caused it, but he wasn’t willing to believe anything that didn’t portray me as the villain.
When I shook my head and whispered back to him, “I’m not lying, and I didn’t sell out my team or my country. That’s a damn lie.”
I was ready when his temper snapped. He came charging toward me with his fist raised.
I was prepared for him. Time to tango, and I was going to get away or die trying.
No way would I allow this motherfucker to hurt me.
It was time to show him the real Astrid.
The woman who was willing and able to fight him hand-to-hand for her freedom.
His SEAL training was intimidating, but I’d trained with multiple Special Forces people over the years.