In The Company of Your Shadows || Phillip Graves x OFC

6 - The Devils Wear Medals

"Shepherd," Graves greeted the man with a nod of acknowledgment, his expression guarded as Shepherd closed the door behind him and fixed his gaze on me.

"Lieutenant Astor," Shepherd began, his tone stern and unforgiving. "You do realize that sneaking into a General's office is a serious offense, don't you? I don't care how urgent your need to see me was; this behavior is inexcusable."

A lump formed in my throat as I swallowed hard, the weight of Shepherd's reprimand pressing down on me like a heavy burden.

I knew I fucked up and had acted recklessly, driven by desperation to uncover the truth about Graves, but now faced with Shepherd's disapproval and the consequence of my impulsivity; I struggled to find words to defend my actions.

But before I could stammer out a feeble excuse, Graves stepped forward, his arm outstretched protectively in front of me. His voice was firm, commanding, as he addressed the general.

"No one touches her, no one," he declared, his words leaving no room for argument. "Including you, General."

My heart skipped a beat, a swell of admiration and love washed over me, filling my heart with warmth and appreciation. The sight of him, willing to defy even Shepherd, the man he answers directly from, to shield me from harm, stirred something deep within me.

It was a small action, and yet to me, it was proof that I truly meant something to him.

Shepherd's scoff pierced the tense silence, punctuating the air with disdain as he settled into his armchair before us. "So, I guess in the end, you let her know the truth anyways, huh, son?" he remarked dryly, his gaze flickering between Graves and me.

Graves's shoulders sagged slightly, a weariness settling over him as he acknowledged Shepherd's observation. "I would have told her the truth sooner, She didn't deserve getting left in the dark like that," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret.

Shepherd's response was dismissive, his words laced with a veneer of false concern. "You know we couldn't risk it. We needed to maintain this secret until it was safe for you to operate normally again," he explained, though the underlying truth was clear to both Graves and me.

Shepherd's loyalty lay not with Graves as a person, but with the preservation of his own interests-we were merely a means to an end, a pawn in a larger game. His game.

At one point, I had accepted my role as just a cog in a bigger machination, a soldier for their cause. But now, faced with the truth of how those in power would use their authority for their own benefit, I was starting to doubt my own morals in loyalty.

Turning his attention back to me, Shepherd's gaze bore into mine with a judgmental edge. "But it seems our little lady Raven here couldn't resist her curiosity, like a cat that just had to know everything," he remarked pointedly, his tone laden with accusation. "And now, here we are."

I squared my shoulders and stepped forward, bypassing the protective barrier of Graves's arm, a surge of defiance coursed through me. My fists clenched into tight balls at my sides, my gaze locked onto Shepherd with unwavering intensity.

"You do realize everything's your fault, right?" I spat, my voice trembling with suppressed anger. He made me believe that Graves was dead and even had the gal to make me deal with the FBI while leaving me in the blind.

General Shepherd's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise as he crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat with an air of casual indifference.

"My fault, huh? Enlighten me, how is everything my fault?" he taunted, his tone tinged with condescension.

"All that has happened; the loss of our men in both the ambush in Al-Mazrah and the ones we lost on Las Almas, the weapon caches, Graves's supposed death-all of it bears your fingerprints, General," I retorted, the last word laced with biting sarcasm.

Shepherd's response was chillingly indifferent, his casual dismissal of the consequences of his actions sending a shiver down my spine. "And your point is? Sacrifices are necessary, soldier. It's all for the greater good," he reasoned, his words devoid of remorse or empathy.

"What greater good? all I see is a general that wants to live out his glory days again. Heck, I won't even be surprised if you start world war three just so you could put your name on it for a fucking chest candy!" I snapped in annoyance.

"And maybe I would've in another timeline. Again, your point is?" He replied simply.

I was stunned into silence by his callousness, the realization dawning on me that this man would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Graves, Shadow Company, even me-we were nothing more than pawns in his ruthless game of power.

Before I could voice my indignation further, Graves's firm voice cut through the tension, halting me in my tracks and effectively stopping me.

"Selene, that's enough. Stand down, soldier," he commanded, his tone stern yet gentle.

At that moment, I felt a wave of obedience wash over me, It was as if my body and mind was conditioned to obey anything Graves commands me to, a testament to the unwavering loyalty and love I held for him.

Shepherd's dark chuckle echoed through the room, his amusement evident as he observed my obedience to Graves's commands. His eyes gleamed with a twisted sense of satisfaction as he addressed Graves, his tone laced with thinly veiled sarcasm.

"You really need to take better care of this woman of yours, Graves. She just keeps being so disrespectful to me. Makes me wonder why I'm still keeping her around," he remarked, his amusement evident in every word.

Feeling bile rise in my throat, I turned away in disgust, biting down on my lip until the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. The realization of the power-hungry monster we served under Shadow Company's banner sickened me to the core. How easily Shepherd could command Graves, and how effortlessly he wielded his authority over us, left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Well, anyways," Shepherd continued nonchalantly, as if discussing the weather, "I guess there's a bright side to her knowing now. I was planning to send someone to do some work for me in Monaco... and you two would do just fine," he declared, handing down orders as casually as if he were distributing candy.

"Who the fuck do you-," my temper flared, the urge to lash out at Shepherd rising within me, but before I could unleash my fury, Graves intervened once more.

"Copy that, Actual. We'll take it from here," he responded with practiced professionalism, his tone devoid of emotion.

I stared at Graves in disbelief, struggling to comprehend his calm demeanor in the face of Shepherd's blatant exploitation.

With a resigned sigh, I reluctantly acquiesced, my spirit momentarily broken by the realization of our subservience to a man whose thirst for power knew no bounds.

"Fine. Yes, sir," I muttered, my voice tinged with resignation and defeat.

Shepherd's satisfaction was palpable as he surveyed us, his gaze settling on me with a sense of expectation.

"Prove your worth, Raven," he admonished, his tone tinged with a reminder of the debt I owed him. "Don't forget who gave you to Graves in the first place."

His words cut through me like a knife, dredging up memories of my first encounter with Graves five years ago, a meeting orchestrated by Shepherd himself. It was the beginning of everything, the moment that set the wheels in motion for the tumultuous journey that lay ahead. And his words definitely strengthened my beliefs on how he saw me. He really does saw me as mere commodity, didn't he?

The realization that my entire existence within Shadow Company might have been part of Shepherd's sinister machinations left a bitter taste in my mouth. Was our meeting also part of his twisted plans?

At this point, only he and the devil knew the truth. And trust me, the longer I work for this man, the harder it is to differentiate which was who.