Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(18)

“When will they let you leave?” Humphrey asked, wondering if any of them were spies for Mollia Domini.

“Three days is what they said last. I’ll have two doctors at the White House at all times for another two weeks. It’s just the two of us in this wing, so they are constantly around to check on us. You better tell me what news you have and fast,” Birch told him.

Humphrey felt bad asking when Birch could leave while he was still pale and bruised. Tate didn’t look any better with her arm in a sling from a bullet wound and her leg in a cast from major surgery. However, war was coming and they had to be ready.

“Valeria has been found.”

Tate gasped and sat up too fast. She winced but didn’t sit back down. “Where is she? Is she safe?”

“She’s safe. Lizzy called. She and Dalton are on their way back. Valeria called them for extraction from Mexico. Since they couldn’t make it, they sent Grant Macay to rescue her.”

“Grant Macay? Who’s that?” Tate asked, cutting off Birch.

“He was the pilot from Dalton’s PJ team. He helped out with the South China Sea incident. They are in flight now to Laughlin and will be in DC by morning. Lizzy has ordered Val to read him in.”

Birch nodded. “Does Valeria know about Brock?” Humphrey shook his head. “I want to tell her. He died saving our lives.”

“Valeria says she can bring Mollia Domini down. She found the information when she was in Mexico. We need to find a way to get them in here to see you,” Humphrey said, looking over his shoulder at a nurse coming toward them.

She opened the door and smiled. “Here’s your medicine, Mr. President.” The nurse seemed to take forever as she gave Birch his medicine, gave Tate hers, took their blood pressure, and recorded their vitals. Finally she left, leaving the sliding glass door open a couple inches. Humphrey got up without saying a word and closed it.

“I don’t think we can,” Birch said as he eyed the doctor coming toward them yet again.

“Video call,” Tate said quickly. “Get a secure video link, and we can put in headphones and take the call from here. I’ll wobble to put a broomstick against the door if I have to.”

Humphrey nodded. “I’ll have Alex get me a secure, untraceable laptop.”

The door opened and the doctor walked in. “And how are we feeling tonight?”

Humphrey rolled his eyes as he went to work sending what he needed to Alex. He’d meet him a short distance from the hospital and bring the laptop back to the hospital that night.

He waited for the doctor to leave and rose to shut the door yet again. “Now, onto the rest of the matters affecting the country.”



* * *



Valeria looked out across the Mexican landscape. Another hour and they would be back in the US. Grant hadn’t asked to be filled in yet. Instead he’d been quiet, allowing her time to think. And that was what she needed to do. She still hadn’t revealed the thumb drive located in her belt buckle, and she hadn’t informed him of Mollia Domini and what they were up against. The idea that Tate and Birch were hurt because she couldn’t get the intel to them had hit her fast and hard. Harder than she thought it would.

Valeria wasn’t the type of person to get close to others. The one time she did, the man turned on her and had her fired from the DEA. But Little Miss Sunshine, Tate Carlisle, had snuck up on her.

“So, you were with Dalton when the helo went down in Syria?” Valeria asked, finally coming out of her thoughts.

“Aye.”

Valeria rolled her eyes at the one-word answer. “Why did you go with him?”

“It was the right thing to do. We don’t leave anyone behind.”

“Even if it gets you discharged?”

Grant nodded. “Even if it got us thrown in a cell for a month.”

“Are you ready to do something that will land you in a grave if you’re caught?”

“I picked you up, didn’t I?” Grant winked at her, and Valeria felt a small smile tug at her lips. His confident attitude was something she could relate to, and by his actions tonight, he had the skills to back that attitude up.

“There’s a group called Mollia Domini that wants to control the world from the shadows. Assassinations, media manipulation, and political interference. Some of the biggest names in the world are part of it,” Valeria told him, expecting a reaction but only received a grunt instead.

“What were you doing in Mexico without backup?”

That wasn’t the question Valeria was expecting or wanting. “I had a lead.”

“So you go it alone instead of filling in your team?” It sounded like a reprimand, and it probably was, but this guy didn’t have the right to comment on a group he only was now learning about.

“I don’t think you—”

“Don’t work yourself into a lather. If I’m joining this team, I need to know the strengths and weaknesses. To be a strong team, you have to acknowledge those strengths and weaknesses. Don’t try to tell me shooting off to Mexico half-cocked on some lead and leaving your team behind is a strength.”

Valeria felt the familiar urge to defend herself, but the knowledge that she could have possibly prevented the bombing of Tate and Birch stopped her. “I thought at the time I was protecting my team.”