Marcus

Chapter Thirty One

Caroline ~

As soon as Caroline stepped foot on base Fox had ordered her in for a debriefing through the comms radio in her ear.

She was still in her formal attire, but wasn't about to waltz across the base in a tight dress and heels. Luckily she was so used to Fox's antics that she had planned for such an occasion, stowing her go bag in the garage before she had left.

"Your presence has requested for a debriefing in five minutes - room B7 ma'am."  A young enlisted man, who looked like he was about nineteen, announced as soon as she grabbed her bag.

"Yeah, yeah let me get changed first." Caroline mumbled as she ducked behind one of the utility vehicles in the garage."

His eyes went wide and looked over at the young guy standing next to him as Caroline started to undress.

"You're just going to change right here?"  He asked.

"You said five minutes didn't you?" Caroline huffed as she unzipped her dress behind the vehicle.

"Yes ma'am, but...right in front of us?"

I don't have time for this. You wouldn't give a shit if I were a man.

"Yeah well then turn the fuck around." Caroline bit out as she yanked her shirt down over her head, changing into something more comfortable and acceptable in about ten seconds flat.

"Okay boys, your eyes are safe now." Caroline sassed with an eye roll as she brushed past them with her bag over her shoulder.

Nate was already in the briefing room along with Fox and Cooper when she entered, dropping her bag against the wall as she took a seat.

"You did good Red." Nate praised as soon as she entered the room.

"Well it would have gone a lot smoother if I hadn't run into Hashim. You got any insight on that Fox?" Caroline said, trying and failing to control the bite in her tone.

"We didn't realize he would be in attendance. None of the intel had him on any of the guest lists so we were just as surprised as you were."

I highly doubt that.

"That true Coop?" Caroline asked, shooting her gaze toward her partner who wouldn't make eye contact with her which already told her everything she needed to know.

"There were rumors that he might attend but his name wasn't in the finalized buyers list." Cooper said with guilt in his voice.

Caroline scoffed at his answer and shook her head, trying to conceal how furious she was that she had been put in that position.

"Do you realize how bad that could have been? If he would have outed me, there would have been a public execution right then and there." Caroline hissed.

"We realize that now, but like I said, at the time there were no indicators of his presence at the venue. Now, are you going to continue whining or can we get on with the debrief?" Fox said with absolutely no emotion in his voice.

His words set Caroline on fire and she narrowed her eyes at her heartless supervisor.

"Whining? So wanting reliable Intel for a job is whining now?"

"Enough Liz. The intel was solid. Circumstances changed on the fly. No one knew." Fox said flatly.

I have a feeling no one knew...except you, Fox. And I hate that alias. All it does is remind me that you faked my death and forced me to take a new name, making me believe it was for my safety when really it was just for your own personal agenda.