Changing Tides Read Online Free PDF Page A

about.”
    “My understanding is that he died during the interrogation, without revealing any information, Sir.”
    “Here?”
    “No, Sir, at Fort Landry.”
    “I see. Do we know how they are getting into the system?” the general asked.
    “No, Sir. Not that I’ve been able to determine.”
    Brigadier General Reynolds nodded. “Write up a formal report detailing everything you know and any suspicions you have, and have it to me this evening. Because of the group’s level of sophistication and knowledge, Homeland Security thinks it’s most likely based out of the capitol. They will handle the investigation from now on.”
    Brett hesitated before responding. “Yes, Sir.”
    In his gut, he disagreed, but there were no clues, no information pointing to who the Citizens for a Free Aelland were, what their message was or how to get rid of them.
    “You disagree with this decision, Lieutenant?” Brigadier General Reynolds asked.
    “Yes, Sir, but I have nothing else to offer, no other evidence or information to say otherwise,” Brett replied. “Homeland Security has more resources and information available. Hopefully, they can make more progress than we’ve been able to.”
    Suspicion wasn’t enough. There needed to be proof. More than that, his instincts could be wrong. That could cost lives. Better to let the capitol handle it and get it right than to trust it with lower-ranking and inexperienced staff.
    “Very true. There are still three other topics to discuss,” Brigadier General Reynolds said, nodding slightly. “So, let’s move on, shall we?”
    Time crept by, and Brett dutifully took notes and provided information or updates whenever possible. All the while, his mind alternated between thinking about Orion and the video. By the end of the meeting, he’d resigned himself to the fact Homeland Security in the capitol would take over the investigation. They were likely to continue taking the most important issues for themselves.
    That realization begged a question he hadn’t asked himself in years. Would his life always be mediocre with no chance to prove he could do more? Was there nothing more to life than suspicion and stagnation?
    When the meeting was over, Brett stood and gathered his things, his mind still turning over the questions.
    “Lieutenant DeMarco.”
    “Yes, Sir,” Brett said, looking up at the base commander as the older man got ready to leave the conference room.
    “We’ll discuss the other matter tonight. Seventeen-thirty.”
    Brett nodded. “Yes, Sir.” His heart skipped a beat. His joy was quickly replaced by fear. What if the General said Brett wasn’t allowed to see Orion again? What would he do then? Would he be willing to give Orion up? Would he be willing to walk away and never see the man again?
    Brett mulled the question as he made his way back to his desk and wrote up the report the general had requested. Various scenarios and consequences played out in his mind over the course of the day. Maybe . It was the answer he’d reached and finally acknowledged still didn’t completely sit well with him. Maybe.
    He didn’t want to lose the other man, but he wasn’t deluding himself either. He didn’t love Orion, and the younger man didn’t love him. The potential for love was there, but Brett wasn’t sure he wanted to risk everything on a maybe. He blew out a breath. Maybe, he was deluding himself. The connection he felt with Orion was stronger than anything he’d ever felt with another person. Stronger, he knew, than it had been with Taren. What Brett needed, and couldn’t have, was more time.
    Picking up the report, he secured his work area and left the building. Orion was still on Brett’s mind when he approached the base commander’s office. Sex was still an option if he didn’t pick a mate. The only difference was he’d be sterilized within twenty-four hours of his birthday.
    He’d finally found the information he needed to make his choices—information his