RAW Deception (Round 2 in the RAW Instinct Series)

Gregory

I received the call just as I finished my conversation with Beryl. "Hi Colonel. It's Sergeant Ellen Mojani. General Miyani's personal assistant."

I frowned. First thing that entered my mind was the word "Trouble."

"Hi, Sergeant. How can I help you?"

"The General would like to have a meeting with you tomorrow morning, Colonel."

"I'm on leave, Sergeant."

"The general is aware of that. He insists this is urgent, Colonel. He'd like to see you at eight tomorrow morning."

"I'll be there."

Urgent meant a new mission somewhere in the world. Most probably the Congo again. Seems like we wasted so many years on that place.

I was seeing Dirk tonight at the group meet-up and made a mental note to find out from him if he knew anything about this. If it were a mission, he would have seen the memo already.

***

I arrived at Dirk's fifteen minutes before the others and stood with him in the kitchen while he prepared a welcome coffee liqueur for the group. "Mission? I don't know anything about a mission," Dirk said, lowering his voice.

"The General wants to see me tomorrow morning at eight. Apparently, it's urgent. I thought it might be another mission."

"Nothing's been communicated to me, Greg. I would have told you."

"Then it's something else."

Dirk slapped me on the back and laughed. "Maybe it's a promotion."

"Yeah, right."

"Change of subject," he said. "Last week you mentioned you had met another guy at the cottage."

"What about him?"

"Is there...how do I put this? Is there a romance there?"

I knew he'd ask. It was just a matter of time. It really had nothing to do with him, but I indulged him anyway.

"There is."

"I can see you're in love. It's in your eyes."

"He's special. He makes me squeal and laugh."

"When do I get to meet this special guy?"

"Soon, I hope. What about you? Have you met someone?"

"Actually, yes. He'll be here tonight."

Dirk's boyfriend sat on the couch opposite me, continually staring as though he'd seen the Virgin Mary. Here was a fine young man, in his mid-thirties, looking like an A-list movie star or front-page model. I thought Dirk's taste lay in rough, adventurous men, wild and untamed. Seems I was wrong. Parker's suave attendance bordered on the flamboyant side, not too much, not too little. Short, dark hair, trimmed close to his head, a slight three-day moustache and beard livened up his face. The ring on his small finger had his initials: PB. Parker Bester.

"I've heard a lot about you," he said, standing beside me on the patio during a short break.

"Dirk and I go a long way," I said, not looking at him.

"Dirk is a fabulous guy. He thinks the world of you, by the way."

"After all I've done to him?"

"He told me he was once in love with you. That you're a little confused about your way forward. I'm a psychologist. If you need any help let me know."

"He said that?"

"Not in a bad way. He's concerned about you."

"I'm sure he is. Truth is Parker, I know where I'm headed and I didn't have to pay for the advice."

"Who said anything about payment? It's an offer of goodwill. If you think I can help, call me."

I didn't like this conversation and excused myself. Parker's words brought back all the advice that Shane had given me and I rushed to the bathroom and teared up. In the mountains, time stood still. I wanted those memories forever. The first time I held Shane's hand. His smell. His eyes. Those eyes that lit up every time he saw me.

My phone chimed. I grabbed it from my top pocket and immediately my heart skipped a beat. It was Shane using Raw's phone, and my whole face smiled with delight and joy.

Colonel. Can't wait to see you at gym Sunday night. I love you.

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