Page 43 of Under His Command
The two women get up from their stations and clear the room for us, letting us wait for the polish to dry.
“Maddox and I have a… complicated relationship. It’s not what you see on the news,” she tells me, still in a quiet voice.
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear. Again, you…”
“You can’t really tell?” she finishes the sentence for me. “Pretending is part of the job. It’s what we do.”
“You don’t love him?”
An intrusive question, no doubt. I won’t be surprised if she chooses not to answer.
“I… it’s complicated. Our marriage was very practical to begin with. It pissed my father off. And that’s what we both wanted. Look, I don’t know how much Rowan told you about our world, but there’s probably something you should know.”
“He told me bits and pieces. He told me what really happened to my brother, Cole.”
“I’m sorry about that, by the way.”
“It’s okay,” I smile. “It’s not easy, but I think it’s time I finally moved on.”
Cam bites her lower lip, looking down into her lap as if she’s deciding whether to keep going or not. But then she looks back up, and the words coming out of her mouth are not what I expected to hear today.
Or any other day, for that matter.
“My father was the one who gave the order to kill your brother. He’s the leader of the Echelons of the Free World.”
FIFTEEN
The old ache settles in my chest, the way it always does whenever Cole’s death is brought up. Which seems to be a lot more frequent these days than ever before. What didn’t I know about my brother? What’s going on in this country that the public has no idea about?
Even without knowing much about this organization they speak of, I realize now that the heart of our society pulses with dark secrets and lies I never dared to imagine—the kind you see in movies and stuff. The facade of normalcy slowly shatters around me, leaving me with a gnawing sense of dread and unshakable unease.
Sucking in a breath, I tilt my head at an angle, my eyes sliding over to Cam’s as I say, “Doesn’t that mean… you’re part of that organization too?” I glance over at the door, my pulse quickening as I connect the dots. The President told her to behave. Now she’s telling me this… so Cam probably lured me here, away from everyone’s eyes, so she can—
“Dove,” she says, placing a hand over mine. I jolt, releasing the air trapped in my lungs as fear takes over. “I’m married to the President. I’m wearing his shock collar, for God’s sake. Do you really think Rowan would’ve let you come with me if I were a threat?”
No, no he wouldn’t. Unless… unless he has no idea.
But it’s hard to believe he isn’t in the know about stuff like this.
“You just told me you’re involved in the murder of my brother. How am I supposed to… What am I supposed to do with this information?”
“I said my father was. And I only told you so that it doesn’t take you by surprise after we’re already deep into this friendship,” she sighs. “I was born into the EFW. For a long time, I had no choice but to serve at the shrine of my father’s power. The things they do, Dove… you wouldn’t wish them on your worst enemies. They run the banks, the courthouses, the education system, the pharmaceutical industry… everything. And people like you and me? We’re just like puppets on a string to them. Numbers. Cattle, if you will.”
“Even you?” I ask, realizing that I’m practically squeezing her hand between mine. She squeezes mine back, and the gesture embraces me in a sheer layer of temporary placidness.
She nods. “I try to do what I can from this position, but my impact is limited. I can do all the humanitarian work in the world, but if the EFW wants people to die, they’ll die. They do die, in fact. Every single day. From wars. From cancers with no cure in sight. From accidents that aren’t truly accidents, just to make sure someone more important steers clear of crimes committed in their past.”
Tears pool around Cam’s stormy irises, as if the doors of her heart burst open under the pressure of everything she’s been through, unable to contain it anymore. She blinks them away, waving her hand in the air as the smell of acetone from her freshly-painted nails wafts between us.
“It’s not fair. And it hurts so much—knowing I get to live this life while so many others suffer under my father’s thumb. If it wasn’t for Maddox I would’ve probably been dead by now. I should be, in fact. And I am truly sorry, Dove, for everything we’ve put you through. For taking away someone you loved so much—” I lean in, placing my other hand over hers as if we’re old friends from high school reconnecting after long years.
“I think… I think whatever horrors you went through, Cam, trumps any heartache one can have. It’s not your fault. And thank you for trusting me enough to share this with me. People talk about these things, you know. Conspiracy theorists and all. But to think that this is the reality we live in…”
“You should be careful,” she says, heaving out a long sigh. “Being with Rowan puts you even higher on their hit list now. They’re always looking for ways to weaken our party so they can put someone else at the top—someone they can maneuver the way they want. Why aren’t you living with him, by the way? Do I have to fucking spell it out for him? I know he’s got a lot on his plate these days, but seriously—”
“No, no, he’s actually asked me. Twice. I just… don’t want to push him away by being there all the time, you know?”
“That’s stupid, and it can get you killed. Listen to me. You need to pack your stuff and go live with him for a while. The man is clearly obsessed with you. You really think he’s going to dump you for giving him something he so desperately wants?”
