Vengeance from Ashes: Special Edition with Exclusive Content (Honor and Duty Book 1) by Sam Schall & Amanda S. Green

Author:Sam Schall & Amanda S. Green [Schall, Sam]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Hunter's Moon Press
Published: 2017-10-17T06:00:00+00:00

« Chapter 10 »

“Come!”

At Pawlak’s call, Ashlyn opened the door. The moment she stepped inside, Pawlak rose and moved around his desk. His expression concerned, he studied the captain. Then, before she could brace to attention, he waved for her to stand easy. Relieved, she did as he said. Hopefully, this meeting would not be as emotionally draining as the last.

“You look like you’ve been through the wringer, kid,” he said. “You okay?”

She nodded. “They had some questions I wasn’t ready to answer.” She didn’t say anything more, knowing she wouldn’t have to. One thing she learned very quickly about Pawlak was that he understood loyalty. Even though she knew he wanted her to explain what happened during the Arterus mission, not to mention during her time on Tarsus, he’d never pushed. He trusted her to tell him when she was ready. Hopefully, that day would come soon.

“But?” He escorted her to one of the chairs before his desk and then sat in the other, turning so he could watch her.

“But I managed to give them at least some information, specifically about the trial, they hadn’t known. In return, SecDef had an explanation, at least a possible one, for what I told them. Santiago is going to look into it.”

“Then we will let them deal with that. We have something more important to concern ourselves with.” He stood and patted her shoulder before moving around the desk. Before sitting, he activated his comm and sent for Lucinda Ortega. Then, as he settled onto his well-worn chair, he looked at Ashlyn in such a way that she fought the urge to squirm. “There is one thing we need to clear up before Luce gets here.”

Her eyes narrowed and she wondered if she had made a mistake coming straight to her CO’s office. “What?”

Pawlak threw back his head and laughed. Then he sobered. “You have have bent a little, Ash, but those bastards didn’t break you. But we will, by God, break each and every one of them. When we do, you will be standing with me as my XO. The position’s yours again if you want it.”

Ashlyn didn’t dare respond. Earlier, when Lucinda Ortega and the others told her they not only wanted her back with the Devil Dogs but that they wanted her back as the XO, she couldn’t believe it. That alone had meant more to her than they would ever know. Even so, she had not seriously considered returning to her role as Pawlak’s XO. Not only was she acutely aware of the impact the last two years had on her, she wouldn’t do that to Ortega. Her friend deserved the role, a role she’d held since Ashlyn had been relieved of duty.

“Major – Hammer, you have an XO.”

“I have an XO who would much rather return to her role as the battalion’s intel officer. Something you’d realize if you thought about it for a moment.”

He smiled to take any sting out of his words. Then, when a knock sounded at the door, he called out for the newcomer to enter.

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