50 Shades of Drake 5 and 6

More Life: Chapter Fifty

    Everyone on the property was present. The agents, including Darius and a very battered and beaten Rory. Aubrey. Destiny. Carlos. In their makeshift office, scattered throughout the open area. Rory's co-workers were giving him an odd look, mixed with a little bit of fear and a little bit of disbelief. 

    Darius stood in the center of the room with arms crossed over his broad chest. His dark eyes were focused on Rory and wouldn't let up. Everything about him looked intimidating, from his build, to his stance, to his glare, to his lasting silence. 

   One of the other agents dared to speak.

   Darius raised a hand with his palm facing that agent. His eyes were still boring holes into Rory's face. "Do you understand the gravity of what you've done?" Voice and facial expression deceptively calm. 

    Rory nodded.

    "You leaked classified surveillance footage to the very individual we are protecting these people from and then proceeded to make an attempt on their lives."

    "He threatened my family."

    "Yeah, yeah, he threatened your family but that isn't an excuse!" Darius shouted, his voice reverberating off every hard surface in the room. "How many times do we need to drill the message into you?! If your family is threatened, if national security as a whole is threatened, you do NOT do the bidding of an evil incarnate. You come to me! You inform me of what is going on so I can help protect you and your family! You do not put innocent lives at risk, you do not put your fellow agents at risk, and you do not put the entire mission at risk! You were taught this at Quantico!"

    Rory ducked his head down. He held a hand to his left ribcage, even while seated. Occasionally, his face would contort with an expression of pain. 

    Aubrey and Destiny stood holding hands, and Destiny's free hand rested on Carlos's shoulder.

    Darius sighed long and deep before turning to face the three friends. "I can't apologize enough for this serious breach."

    "It's not your fault," Aubrey stated. "There is only one person I blame for this."

    Darius's eyes shifted towards the ribs Rory was holding. "Only one person, huh?"

    Aubrey half-shrugged. "My rage got the best of me. All I could think of in the moment is that I almost lost her again."

    Destiny leaned into him and rested her head on his upper arm.

    "We almost lost both of you," Darius corrected. "If it weren't for Carlos..." His voice trailed off.

    Carlos offered a weak, sad smile. 

    "You're a hero," Darius told him. 

    Unable to speak quite yet, Carlos nodded in response. 

    Darius turned in a slow circle, looking each of his agents in the eyes. "Does anyone else need to step forward as a traitor?" 

    The agents each glanced at each other.

    "Trust me when I say that you'd rather come forward now than have me find out later," Darius said, piercing each agent with a steady gaze before moving onto the next agent.

    "There's something that I'd like to run by you," Aubrey told him after giving the agents some time to speak up.

    "Sure," Darius allowed.

    "Seeing as Palmer has already made two attempts on our lives at this point, I'd like to return home."

    Darius's eyes widened. "I know we've had a bit of a scare here," he said, his tone sounding defensive. "But I can run a tighter ship."

    "This is nothing against you," Aubrey said hastily. "Time and time again, Palmer proves that he can get to us if he wants to. If that's the case I'd rather be comfortable, at home, with the love of my life and the friend of hers that insists on crushing on me. The friend of hers who...proved himself to be a hero today." He gave Carlos a quick look and nod before returning his attention to Darius. "You have to remember that Destiny's friends and family still believe her to be dead. She hasn't seen them or heard their voices in a very long time. You can post agents outside of our door if you need to and they can stay on property. They can escort us on the visit to her family so she can see her parents. But...please let me take my baby girl home."

    Destiny leaned against him even more heavily, and was even moved to cross her fingers.

    Darius's eyes lowered to her crossed fingers. "I wish I could say you were wrong about Palmer being able to reach you if he wants to," he said slowly. The gears in his mind were still working, still trying to find a way to appease everyone in this situation. "The truth of the matter is, you're right. Palmer has proved to be quite resourceful. His reach is far greater than I could've imagined. Agent Barnes."

    Agent Barnes perked up. 

    "Have you arranged for Agent Macally's transport to the nearest medical facility?"

    "Yes, Sir," Agent Barnes affirmed. 

    "Four agents are to remain posted until he is transferred back to the U.S.," Darius announced. "Two inside the room and two outside the room. Breaks are granted and during those breaks one agent will remain in the room and one agent stands outside of the room. He is to receive no visitors. No phone calls. Only the medical team is allowed inside the room. Do you all understand?"

    "Yes, Sir," all of the agents said in unison.

    Darius angled a look at Rory. "You will be tried for this egregious abuse of power. The threats made against your family will be considered. During your hospital stay, you will provide us with a full statement. We will have agents investigate the details of the statement you provide us, starting with having the phone records pulled to see if we have recorded calls with Palmer's voice on it. If so, that can be used at his trial. Once you are released back into our custody, we will transfer you to the U.S. to have a doctor review you and officially clear you from serious injury. Once cleared, you will be arrested and allowed to make two calls: one to family and one to legal counsel. Do you understand?"

    "Yes, Sir," Rory mumbled with his chin nearly touching his chest.

    Darius ran a hand across his brow, then turned his head to look at Aubrey. "I'll make the necessary arrangements for your travel. You're all going home."