Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Pillar’s head went up. A muscle jerked in his jaw. “The woman has problems, and he needed to ensure she was looked after properly.”
Leila’s breath hissed out in a slow show of pure anger. “The reason my sister has problems is because that man experimented on her and removed the filters from her brain. He created the problem.”
“And he’s doing his best to rectify it. Who else will be able to help her?” Pillar demanded. “I suggest that you stop your drama and return to your unit.”
Operation Night-Night is a success. Package safe and secure.
The absent members of Diego’s GhostWalker team checked in, allowing those confronting General Pillar to carry out their mission.
“Leila will be going with us,” Joe said. “So will Grace. There will be no charges brought against her or any GhostWalker. When you choose to create soldiers such as those of us in this room, men and women with altered DNA and enhanced psychic gifts, you are risking far more than you know. We are patriots. We joined the service and volunteered to be enhanced. We worked at learning to control the DNA in us and strengthen our abilities so we could better serve. Again, we are patriots, but we have a strict code we live by. That code is one of honor, and we take it very seriously. We believe in protecting those who can’t protect themselves. We don’t condone or allow men to rape women or experiment on children or adults. We weren’t created for those purposes. We were created to ensure it doesn’t happen. We’re sent into the field to stop atrocities. We certainly aren’t going to condone them here in our own country.”
Pillar looked around the room. “Are you threatening me? Because it sounded very much like you were.”
“We are ghosts, General. We can walk unseen through walls. You watched us come into this room, and you believe your eyes. You believe that those seated at the table with you are the only ones here. I’m telling you that you’re wrong. There are GhostWalkers unseen in this room. Every soldier you brought with you that you ordered concealed has been incapacitated. Your men aren’t lying there with rifles aimed at our heads. My men are aiming at yours.”
Pillar sent a wild look around the room and then, tellingly, looked up toward the ceiling and across toward the upper-story mezzanine. “Ted?” He appealed to General Ranier.
Joe continued relentlessly. “Grace has been recovered and will go with us. Leila will go with us. In return, she won’t go to the press, and we won’t make public the experiments being carried out by our government. And you won’t receive a visit in the middle of the night. You can retire with your career and reputation intact.”
“You can’t do this. You’re a soldier, and I order you to stand down. To turn Leila Fenton over to me.”
“You cannot give me orders, General,” Joe stated. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re a disgrace to your uniform. You condone the kinds of horrific experiments that the United States condemned in other countries. You’ve stated in no uncertain terms that you believe it is perfectly reasonable for children to be experimented on. Logan recounted a small number of the atrocities your friend Whitney carried out, and you stated those were necessary. It is on record, but I can assure you that record won’t see the light of day. Resign. Do it immediately. We’re done here.”
For the first time, Chariot stood. “My wife? She was with Gracie.”
“Your wife is perfectly fine. We don’t make a habit of going after innocents. If you have any influence over General Pillar, now would be a good time to use it.”
“Bradley,” General Ranier said. “Resign. These men are lethal, and you don’t ever want to be in their sights. You’re getting off easy.”
Pillar sagged. Sat down.
He realizes he helped create us, and he doesn’t stand a chance against us. He got what he wished for, he just didn’t realize he would suffer the consequences, Diego told Leila as they stood to leave.
17
Other than the heat and humidity reminding her she didn’t need to be pinched, Leila felt as if she were in fantasyland. A fairy tale. Gracie was excited to meet other children, and Wyatt’s triplets instantly adored her. Ginger, Cannelle and Thym hovered over Gracie, seeing to her every want.
“That child is going to be spoiled in no time,” she observed, happiness blossoming. Tears burned behind her eyes. This was exactly what she wanted for her daughter. People who accepted her. Would love her. Friends she could play with.
Diego had warned her that the triplets carried venom in their bite, but they all knew better than to bite. Trap and Wyatt had developed an antidote. She admitted to herself she was a little anxious and watched them carefully, but so far, the three little girls had been loving and protective.