Rhapsody (The Bellator Saga Book 5) (27 page)

Schroeder was so neurotic. She assumed that was why Jack had put him in such a sensitive position, since he seemed like a details guy. Jack had done the same thing when he was in office. In that regard he was the complete opposite of Caroline, who had made sure to have someone fun yet capable around her during every step of her career.

“It’s fine,” she said. “Really. And you can treat me the way you treat my husband but please don’t make a big deal out of it. Okay?”

Schroeder smiled at her. It was the first time she’d seen him look anything other than harried. “Okay.”

“May I go in there?” she asked.

“Yes.” He paused. “Commander Gerard.”

Caroline sighed again. She knew how hard it was to break potentially bad habits. “It’s going to take a lot of work to get you to lighten up, isn’t it?”

“Probably.”

But she’d damn well try. “Do you need to announce me or something?”

“I doubt it,” he said. “But let’s maintain some semblance of formality for now.”

He picked up the phone and dialed Jack. It was a quick exchange. “He’s all yours.”

If only he knew. Although he probably did, since she and Jack had gone for days without any contact with the outside world. But she wouldn’t think about that. She winked at him. “Thank you, Captain.”

As expected, Jack was sitting at his desk. “Hello, Mrs. McIntyre,” he said, crossing the room to greet her. “Shut the door.”

She turned around to close it and when she spun back to face him he was right behind her. He kissed her deeply, holding onto her for a very long time.

Oldest trick in the book, but she didn’t mind. Caroline gently pushed him away. “You’re trying to distract me.”

“Did it work?”

“A little. When were you going to tell me about that email you had your assistant send out?”

“Hey, I told you to dress nicely this morning.” He gave her the once over. “I see you ignored my instructions. Nice hoodie.”

Caroline stuck her tongue out at him. “You knew damn well I was going to prance around the base looking like crap. Jerk.”

“Did everyone stand up for you anyway?”

It happened once and hopefully wouldn’t again. Soldiers only stood for Jack during meetings and official functions. “Yes. I did a double take. Is there anything you want to say to me?”

He gave her a mischievous grin. “Congratulations?”

Caroline flounced into the chair facing his desk, debating whether to make a pouty face. “You should have told me, Jack.”

“I knew if I did you’d try to talk me out of it. You may have even succeeded.”

“I don’t know if I want this.”

“That doesn’t matter. We started this together. We’re going to end it together. It makes sense. I don’t like having this weird hierarchical divide between us. Not if we’re partners.”

“You never had any problem bossing me around in the sack,” she said.

Jack grinned again and sat down at his desk. “That is a completely separate and wholly enjoyable issue.”

“What does this mean in terms of responsibility?”

“We make all major decisions jointly, conduct meetings together, deal with any diplomatic concerns that come in the aftermath of the data release. Do everything side by side.” He turned away from her. “Plus it means I can keep you safe.”

It never took long for her to be granted enlightenment. “Is that what this is about? Making sure I stay out of trouble?”

“You do have a reputation for it.”

“No more dangerous missions?”

“Not on my watch. Any time you leave the relatively secure confines of this facility, it will be with me. That, my dear, is not up for discussion. And before I forget, you’ll need a security team.”

“Say what?”

“Bodyguards.”

“Do
you
have bodyguards?”

“The government doesn’t think they killed me.”

“But they think you’re dead. It said so in my file.”

Jack sighed. “Caroline, you really want to argue about my quite valorous effort to keep you free from harm?”

She could grant him this one thing. A little cookie. But she had to know how short a leash she was being given. “I’m no longer allowed to gallivant around the base unescorted?”

“No, you’ll have plenty of freedom of movement.  But I need to know you’re being protected. When and if we travel, we’ll need men we can trust.” He gave her a sly look. “I’m sure you know a few soldiers who fit that description.”

Caroline smiled. “I’ll talk to Jonesie, Gig, and Crunch tonight. Is three enough? And will you let them protect you as well?”

“The three of them are more than enough. I know they’ll do everything in their power to keep you out of harm’s way.”

That wasn’t quite an answer but she knew how to get the message across to the guys. She folded her arms. “I’m not overjoyed about this, you know.”

“I know you aren’t. But I need you to do this with me. I need your help. You can do things to make this easier on all of us.”

She wasn’t quite ready to be a poster child for anything, but she could be a good sport. “This is like a superb eighties pseudo soapy drama. Husband and wife, saving the world.”

“I’ll be Robert Wagner if you’ll be Stefanie Powers.”

How could she not adore a man who got her pop culture references? “I loved that show. Don’t knock that show.”

“I’m not.”

“Can’t we pretend to be on
Knots Landing
instead? Put in a cul de sac somewhere on the base? Karen MacKenzie holds a very special place in my heart.”

Jack knelt down to kiss her. “I love you, Caroline. Let’s do this. We can bring America back. Together.”

She laughed. “I know what you mean but that sounds like a terrible campaign slogan.”

“We’ll work on the optics. Now, my lady, may I take you to dinner?”

“Sure,” she said. “I know a place where there’s a shit ton of clementines.”

Jack promised her answers. With equal responsibility came equal knowledge. He’d given her little pieces here and there, but nothing substantial. Probably because he’d been focusing on her recovery. She could forgive that oversight. But a briefing gave her the opportunity to get the knowledge she needed and the chance to get to know Schroeder better. Maybe he’d warm up if she baked him a pie. She might even put the right amount of sugar in it.

“We’ll meet with all of my advisors later this week,” Jack said. “I thought you’d feel more comfortable in a smaller group for the time being.”

A smaller group meaning one other person, apparently. “Major Flaherty didn’t want to participate?” Caroline asked.

Jack laughed. “I think he’d much prefer to chat with you over drinks than flipping through briefing manuals.”

“Point taken.” Maybe the guy wasn’t as aloof as he acted during field training. She could handle that much. “So it’s just you, me, and Captain Smiley Face?”

Jack squeezed her hand. “I thought you could tell him what happened to you. Before you told everyone else.”

Oh, that sounded like a terrible idea. Even if the guy had stopped scowling at her. “Really?”

“He’s much more sympathetic than he looks.”

Maybe Schroeder’s apology at their last briefing had been borne out of a more genuine reaction than she assumed. “Are you sure?”

“You don’t have to tell him,” Jack said quickly. “But I trust him with almost everything.”

Caroline pressed her palm to her forehead. “You didn’t tell him about our difficulties, did you?”

He kissed her lightly. “I kept all of that to myself.”

Bottled it up, corked it, and waxed it shut from what she could tell. Although she assumed he’d talked about some of it with Natalie. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“None of that.” He kissed her again before unlocking the office door. “Just go with what you feel. Schroeder will know what to do with whatever you tell him.”

*              *              *              *              *

She held Jack’s hand the entire time. Tried not to cry. It was easier to open up to Schroeder than she thought. They chatted a little, made some stupid small talk, and she promised to make him cookies instead of a pie since Jack kept insisting he never ate properly either. Caroline could have used a bottle of wine in lieu of the water she was offered.

The younger man asked the right questions. Didn’t press. She didn’t volunteer information and he’d shift topics when he sensed she was getting overwhelmed. Caroline could see why he was such a good assistant. He had more emotional intelligence than she’d given him credit for. Clearly his loyalty to Jack was the driving force behind much of his initial behavior toward her and as she answered his questions as narrowly as possible, he began to soften.

But of course there were some secrets that had to remain hidden. Some truths that couldn’t be uncovered. She gave him as much as she wanted but not nearly as much as she could. She talked about herself and nothing else. That was enough.

“Ma’am, may I be blunt?” he asked, after she’d taken him through the last night with Murdock.

He hadn’t yet let go of formalities. “Can you please call me Caroline?” she asked.

Schroeder glanced at Jack, then nodded. “All right.”

She smiled. Informality made her feel more comfortable. Apparently he was the opposite. “I’d tell you to call Commander McIntyre by his first name but he may not be ready for that yet.”

Schroeder smiled back at her. “I agree. May I ask you one final question?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Have you considered using this information as ammunition against the Santos Administration?”

Every fucking day, but a loaded gun seems much more practical. “
In what sense?”

He cleared his throat. “You’re a former federal prosecutor.”

“I am.”

“You have a loose understanding of international law.”

“I do.”

“You are aware of the International Criminal Court, and the various tools available through the United Nations and other NGOs.”

“Yes.”

“I believe you should take your story to them.”

Tribunals. War crimes. Genocide. She knew where he was going. “You think we should let the ICC know what’s going on in the United States?”

Schroeder straightened his glasses. “Let me be more specific. As you know, we have had difficulty finding compelling reasons for the international community to build coalition with us. Until now, we have never had any concrete proof of what has been happening in Washington. You have direct evidence of conduct that is in violation of any number of international treaties, statutes, and conventions. This is our trump card. If you are able to do it, you need to speak out.”

She knew the processes. Vaguely. “And how do we do that?”

“With the backing of the California Republic, we submit written documentation to The Hague for review. They can decide whether it’s worth pursuing.” He cleared his throat again. “Frankly, ma’am, I think it is.”

Jack had been quiet throughout most of their conversation. And not in a good way. “What do you think of this?” Caroline asked him.

He squeezed her hand. “Whatever you’re up for.”

Oh, he didn’t like this development. He didn’t like it at all. Which was strange since it wasn’t a terribly unusual suggestion for Schroeder to make. She was surprised it hadn’t occurred to anyone else before now. “The captain is right,” she said. “You know he is. Tell us your concerns so we can address them now.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “You went to Nevada with very little protection. We’re lucky no one discovered who you were. You run off to Europe and testify about what happened and there’s no way we can keep your identity a secret. Santos will know you’re alive.”

She’d have to make sure those bottles of whiskey under the sink stayed capped. He didn’t look too happy. “I can’t stay hidden forever, Jack. If we’re going to take him out, at some point he’s going to discover that I escaped.”

“I don’t like this.”

“You don’t have to,” she said gently. “You just have to know it’s the right thing to do.”

He turned to Schroeder. “Should we open this up to the entire board?”

Schroeder shook his head. “I think advising them of the process should be sufficient. Commander - Caroline can tell them her story if she so desires.”

Nice of him to bail her out. And to finally use her first name. “What do we need to do?” she asked.

Schroeder stood up. “I’ll talk to my contacts in Sacramento and we’ll get the ball rolling. In the meantime, we need to meet with our operative. Who knows? Maybe he’ll have information that’s equally helpful.”

“Maybe,” Caroline said. “All we can do is try.”

*              *              *              *              *

“That wasn’t so bad,” she said, after Schroeder went back to his desk.

Jack lay down on the couch in his office. “I really don’t care for this idea.”

She shrugged. “I do.”

“You’ll have to fill out a narrative. Go into more detail than you did with us. Testify. Proffer evidence during a deposition.”

“I know how the system works, darling.”

He sat up. “Come over here.”

She took the seat next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. “We have to do this. We have to do
something
. The data release isn’t enough. You know it isn’t.”

“We could wait it out.”

“This process is going to take months anyway. We may as well start it now.”

Jack kissed her forehead. “I don’t want anything to erase the progress you made. That we made.”

She wrapped her arms around him. “Is that what’s bothering you?”

“Caroline, I know our ultimate goals matter but right now I don’t give a fuck about anything except your well-being. So help me if that makes me selfish.”

She grinned. “You can’t be selfless all the time. Even a perfect man has to have flaws.”

He chuckled. “I have to say, I’m quite pleased that your irreverence has reappeared so easily. Just try not to let it peek out during staff meetings.”

She shoved him down on the couch. “I make no such promises, Commander.”

He pulled her on top of him, squeezing her ass. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something. You don’t have to wear your fatigues, you know. You can wear street clothes.”

“I like wearing them. Why don’t you wear a uniform?”

“I don’t know.” He sighed. “I feel like I haven’t earned the right.”

“Of course you have. And you’d look so good in dress blues. Sexy as hell.”

“Maybe we can stop at the commissary on the way home so I can pick up some fresh clothes. I take no issue with you ogling me on a regular basis.”

“I’ll ogle you, uniform or not but-” She hummed. “I can only imagine what you’d look like pressed and polished.”

He kissed her neck. “And I can only imagine what you’d look like wearing a hell of a lot less than you’re wearing now.”

“You don’t have to imagine. You know.”

Jack kissed her again. “Seriously. Why are you so obsessed with the uniform?”

“I want to show that I’m the same as the other soldiers.”

He started to loosen her ponytail. “But you’re not,” he whispered. “You’re in charge. And right now you’re on top.”

She liked when he spoke in metaphors. “Is that where I belong?”

He ran his tongue across her jawline. “Absofuckinglutely.”

She rose to her feet, pulling him up with her. “Now we’re both on equal footing.”

“I like your style.” Jack bit her neck. “Did I ever tell you how attracted I am to powerful women?”

Caroline laughed. “That used to be my line.”

“You’re attracted to powerful women?”

She shoved him playfully. “You know what I mean.”

He pulled her back to him. “Can’t you at least wear a skirt suit? You can keep playing up your common woman routine but your ass looks so much nicer in a dress uniform.”

“I told you, I like the fatigues. They’re comfortable. And I think you’re sexually harassing me, Commander.”

“I can’t.” He leaned in to kiss her again. “As you noted, we’re equals. And we’re married. That’s not possible.”

His logic was forever distracting. “I don’t know why you have to play that card. Makes it harder for me to quote EEOC regulations at you.”

He slid a finger under her collar. “We’re in California. Those rules don’t apply.”

Caroline rolled her eyes. “Are we going to have sex instead of doing the hard work of the revolution?”

He started to untuck his polo shirt. “If you want.”

“In your office?”

He shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time we engaged in such activity in an office of mine. We need to christen that couch. And my desk. And the floor.” He unbuttoned her jacket. “I don’t know why I didn’t bring you in here sooner.”

She moaned when he kissed her neck. “Isn’t your assistant right outside the door? He might hear. I can’t keep quiet when you’re doing things to me.”

Jack stopped what he was doing, tucking his shirt back in. Clearly she’d set something off. “You’re right,” he said. “We should go back to the apartment.”

Oh boy. That had been quick. What had she said? “Is everything all right?”

He pulled her into a hug. “I’ll explain later. But I want complete privacy for when I fuck you into oblivion.”

She grinned. “If you ask me nicely I’ll put on my dress uniform. As long as you’re wearing one too.”

He opened the door, extending his arm. “I’m holding you to that.”

*              *              *              *              *

They didn’t bother to do anything other than rip off their clothes when they got back to the apartment. Jack fed her pancakes in bed for dinner. Once they were finished they decided to leave the bedroom and stretch out on the couch. Caroline suspected it was because he wanted to make good on his promise to have sex in every tiny space in their apartment. She’d gladly take him up on it. The dress uniform fantasy could be acted out another night. For now she was quite content to lay in his arms as he twirled her hair around his finger.

“Do you ever think about what we used to have?” he asked.

A dangerous question. A big can of worms that didn’t need to be opened. They’d done such a good job of avoiding reality but they couldn’t do it forever. “What
you
used to have,” Caroline corrected. “I was simply along for the ride, content to spend your hard earned money.”

“That’s not what I meant. I meant everything.”

Not just money. Not just sex. Oh boy. He’d thrown her all those bones and he wanted one in return. “Oh.”

“I think we need to talk about Marguerite and Sophie.”

Nope. She wasn’t ready for this. Caroline sat up, shifting away from him on the couch. A few glorious days in bed and a shiny new promotion couldn’t fix everything. “I can’t do that.”