“Colonel Heron and Major Greven were reacting instinctively. Even if they knew it was another Altered attacking, they could not have stopped their response,” General Braun said. “It is the nature of their training and a burden they must bear.”
“Their sacrifice does not go unnoticed by the conventional soldiers who fight alongside them,” Ms. Kramer continued. “I was invited to eat and drink with the men and women from the skirmish where they candidly shared their views of each other.”
“Heron’s squad are crazy mother fuckers, but I wouldn’t want to go anywhere hairy without them,” Colonel Halpern said. “They take the most dangerous chances, so we can do our jobs safely. But they respect who we are and what we do.”
“Of course we respect the conventional troops,” Maximilian said. His voice was full of emotion. “They face fire and death without enhancements, and they are fearless. Their bravery is an inspiration to us. It is an honor to fight beside them.”
The segment ended with the toast to Raden. It was hard to watch, but I had to admire the men and women I served with. They knew what Raden did during that exercise, but their grief was genuine. I suppose each of them knew that the pressures of battle could drive any of them to a dark place from which there was no return.
In signing off, Ms. Kramer was gently teased by a fellow anchor about spending so much time with a big group of attractive me, virile men.
“You needn’t worry,” she chuckled. “I was escorted from the bistro by a handsome young gentleman and two chaperones. My virtue was safe.”
“Her virtue was safe!” Bobby exclaimed. “I’ll never live that down.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being a gentleman,” I said.
“Yeah. And she did say you are handsome,” Vincent added.
That placated Bobby. He even smirked a bit smugly to himself. Vincent glanced over his shoulder at me then rolled his eyes.
***
Monday was much like Sunday except there was no news broadcast hanging over our heads. And I was awaiting news of the Tribunal. My lover cleverly kept me distracted through the morning and early afternoon. Vincent used food prep, eating, meditation and eventually his body to keep me from getting fixated on the passage of time. Bobby was distracted by a problematic assignment, so he was in his room most of the day. That meant there was no reason to explain why we ended up taking a nap in our room instead of on the sofa.
I had never imagined that cooking would be a pleasure I shared with a lover. It was always difficult to watch Vincent without him becoming self-conscious and prickly. That didn’t happen when he was cooking. The process absorbed his attention making him lower his guard. His perpetual scowl was gone leaving the angelic, placid visage that I usually only glimpsed when he was sleeping. I sneaked long looks at him as often as my peeling or chopping allowed. When his gaze met mine, the expression in his eyes was soft and open. I adored the challenging and wicked glint that graced Vincent’s eyes most of the time, but there was something about that soft gaze that tugged at my heart. It could have shifted the mood, but I took the chance to tell him so.
A smile tugged at his lips, but his expression remained soft and open.
“I used to hate that smirk of yours,” he admitted quietly. “Then I realized it was part of your battle face – like my frown. And you’re smirk wasn’t always smug or all-knowing. Sometimes, you mock yourself; sometimes you’re daring me. I like your smirk, but I love how you look when you first open your eyes.”
“Why?”
“It’s a look that’s only for me,” he said with a slight blush. “I see everything in your eyes – what you feel about me and who you really are.”
Vincent let me corner him and draw him into long, lazy kisses while the fragrant soup stock simmered. In the back of my mind, I knew he was using a very pleasant diversionary tactic on me, but the rest of my body just didn’t care. I relished kissing that lush sweet mouth to my heart’s content.
The afternoon wore on with no phone call from Braun. I was not allowed to grow tense or angry. Vincent dragged me into the bedroom for a nap. Vincent’s version of a nap involved sliding my pants off then running his hot tongue along the inside of my leg. All thought left my addled brain when he enveloped my erection and tried to suck me dry. To make sure that I couldn’t think for some time to come, Vincent flipped my limp body over afterward then proceeded to screw my brains out.
“You didn’t even get undressed,” I mumbled as Vincent pulled me in his arms.
“We’re just napping,” he murmured holding me close.
Fortunately, when the phone rang a couple of hours later, it wasn’t about Mueller. Only about half of my brain cells were functioning. It was Jenn Saxl calling, and thankfully, there was more than one Greven available to talk to her. All I could manage at that moment was sitting on the sofa and holding a cup of tea.
“I invited Jenn to dinner on Wednesday,” Vincent called to me.
“Sure, why not?” I replied amicably. “The more the merrier. I’ll order more liquor.”
Vincent flopped onto the sofa after ringing off. He took me by the chin to briefly kiss me.
“What are you going on about?” He asked with a slight frown. “You’re acting a little loopy.”
“That would be your fault, love,” I said, stealing another kiss. “How is Jenn?”
“That was almost a normal conversation for us,” he replied.
“Good,” I said absently. My mind had drifted a little.
“What’s wrong, Rik?”
“There’s nothing wrong, love,” I assured him. “I’m just a little bemused, I suppose.”
“Why?”
“I went from living in my office to having a family with an extended family and Major social obligations,” I replied. “It’s just strange for an anti-social type, that’s all.”
Vincent shrugged his elegant shoulders. “You pointed out that I always had people around me. You always had them around you. There was the brass and whatever politicians to schmooze. The squad was your extended family. You never were really anti-social, either. You are too handsome and magnetic to be. You’re the one who looks good in a dress uniform.”
“You did, too. But you burned yours,” I said with a chuckle.
“It made me look like a girl,” Vincent muttered.
“Well, I suppose it was a little precious when you were younger,” I said. “But you’ve grown taller and your shoulders are broader. I think you’d look good in a formal uniform or a tux, now.”
“Yeah...whatever...what I’m trying to say is that you never really were anti-social.,” Vincent said. “You wouldn’t have been so good with the squad.”
I smiled at him. “Thanks. You’re probably right. But this is still a screwy guest list.”
“Yeah...a lot of liquor may help.”
The phone rang. I left the comfort of the sofa to answer.
“It’s General Braun. Are you alright, Colonel?”
“I’m a little groggy from a nap, sir. What can you tell me?”
“General Mueller has been indicted for a litany of charges,” He replied. “All of his contacts and assets are frozen. His staff has been sacked.”
“Where is he being held?”
“He is still under house arrest, but we have also arrested his compatriots connected to the Market incident,” Braun replied.
I knew it wasn’t that simple. Mueller had been around for too long and survived too much not to have resources that weren’t readily apparent. Braun probably thought he could be shamed into cooperating or at least into not making things worse. There was no point in arguing with the man. He likely thought he had done all that could be done.
“Very well,” I said. “What is next in the process?”
“The full trail begins in 90 days,” Braun said. “He has been secured. You and yours are quite safe.”
“Of course, sir.”
“I’ll see you on Wednesday.”
“Looking forward to
it, sir.”
I sighed as I hung up the phone. At that moment, I was deeply grateful that my lover had worked so hard to bring me peace that day. Vincent was watching me carefully as I approached the sofa. He took me into his arms and tangled his body around mine.
“They are fools,” I said simply. “They think they have him contained.”
“So, now what?”
I thought for a long moment.
“I doubt he’ll be able to do anything for the next couple of days. I doubt he really believed that charges would be leveled against him,” I said. “We go through with the dinner party. But we follow strict protocols. Bobby, too.”
“Okay.”
“Remak can get us what we need.”
“We’ll be ready,” Vincent said thoughtfully. “I think I’ll do a tenderloin roast and a dessert.”
Vincent wasn’t ignoring the potential gravity of the situation. He had moved onto planning the meal and his own battle strategy.
12
The storm passed by Tuesday, but there was a sharp bite of cold left in the air. The weather and the passage of time from the big news story on us reduced the number of people in the Market to the locals and a few die-hard fans. Thus, we had a delightfully leisurely and undisturbed breakfast. Afterward, Vincent made a lot of vendors very happy with his purchases for dinner. The tenderloin was quite pricey for a nine people. The mushrooms and vegetables were also top shelf. The vendors were very happy indeed.
Remak was waiting for us at the end of our driveway. She had a large package on the hood of her car and was sporting quite a scowl.
“Why are you out here in the cold?” I asked. “I left a note for Mrs. Bale to let you in.”
“Sir...Rik, I found it unseemly that the laundress would have the code to you security,” she replied crisply.
“I think even Colonel Halpern would let Ms. Bale take his back on the field any day of the week,” I said with a chuckle.
“I know I would,” Vincent said.
“Very well,” Remak said grudgingly. “I have everything here as you requested, but I cannot believe that you both did Hogan’s Alley and a skirmish with live ammo under anything less than full protocols.”
I shrugged. “It’s an Altered tradition. Protocols are for inspection.”
“Or Armageddon,” Vincent added. “So, we’ll see you around 7-ish?”
“Of course.”
***
In my opinion, such a large party should have caused a lot of consternation. Vincent was not ruffled at all. We did not start prepping until two hours before everyone was due.
“The roasts will take no more than an hour. The vegetables can roast at the same time,” Vincent explained. “Let’s put out some nibbles, first.”
Bobby and I quickly cubed the cheese and placed slices of salamis on a tray with sliced baguettes. The tray was placed on the diningroom table. We then set about wiping down mushrooms, peeling and cutting up vegetables, peeling garlic and prepping herbs. In the quarter hour after we finished the prep, Vincent had seared the meat in hot oil, tossed the vegetables and potatoes with herbs, garlic and oil and placed the roasts and the vegetables in a very hot oven. It was at that point that Bobby pleaded to be excused for his second shower of the day. With a great and exaggerated sigh, Vincent let him go.
That suited me. I took the opportunity to corner my lover and languidly kiss him while the mushrooms were noisily sautéing. He moaned deliciously before pulling out of the kiss.
“Rik...please...we have to make dessert,” Vincent murmured as my lips hovered over his.
“You’re my dessert,” I replied, claiming his lips once more.
Vincent gave in for a moment more before pulling away again.
“You aren’t sharing me with everyone at the dinner party,” he said breathlessly as he distanced himself.
“No, you’re mine.”
With that, gently turned me and pushed me toward the table.
“You need to peel and slice the fruit for the crumble,” Vincent said firmly. “You can have me later.”
“Covered in sugar and spices?”
“It depends on how you behave,” he replied. “Get to work.”
Fifteen minutes later, dessert was assembled and the kitchen was clean. We had changed clothes with a half an hour to spare. I turned on the security cameras and monitors knowing that someone would arrive early. Thirty seconds later, Remak’s sedan was at the end of the driveway with a couple of jeeps. I shut down the perimeter barrier, so Remak could deploy the guards.
“Good evening, Rik, Vincent, Bobby,” Remak said. “Forgive our being early. I thought you might need help.”
“Everything is finished,” Vincent said. I heard a hint of smugness in his voice.
“We could use some wine,” I suggested.
“I’ve got plenty,” Auerbach announced as he entered the house. “Something smells wonderful.”
“Thanks,” Vincent replied. “I’ll open the bottles.”
“I’ll get the glasses,” I said.
It was a really good pinot noir I poured while Vincent took the roasts out of the oven to rest. Bobby was holding the last glass I poured. I gazed at him intently with a raised brow.
“I won’t drink it. I just want to hold it around Ms. Kramer,” he whispered urgently.
I considered that for a few seconds, ignoring the huge golden eyes pleading at me.
“You can hold half a glass.”
“Thanks, Rik.”
We’d enjoyed a few sips of wine and a few moments of base gossip when I noticed a pair of cars moving up the driveway past the guards. I poured two more glasses. To my surprise, it was Jenn Saxl was with General Braun. I poured a third glass.
“The General was kind enough to offer me a ride from town,” she said in response to Bobby’s befuddled look. “Are you drinking?”
“I’m just holding the glass, now don’t embarrass me!” He hissed. “Hi, Ms. Kramer.”
I let the young man get her a drink while I went to assist Vincent. He was humming pleasantly. That was a very good sign.
“Can you take the kitchen chairs into the diningroom?” He asked.
“Sure.”
I took the chairs, then shuttled the plates and flatware. Bobby put out the napkins and water glasses. As I moved back and fourth, I realized that General Braun was telling our guests what was probably the worst story I’d ever heard in mixed company. Bobby was beet-red, but Ms. Kramer and Auerbach were laughing their asses off.
Vincent’s ears were red and he was looking at me owlishly.
“You would have skinned me alive if I told a story like that,” he whispered.
I smiled at him then grabbed him for a quick kiss.
“You never need to talk dirty to me,” I said.
“I think dirty all the time.”
“You never need to tell me. Just do it.”
Vincent gave me a smoldering sidelong glance.
“Remember that you asked for it.”
Dinner was delicious despite what was a strained and awkward relationships at the table. Jenn Saxl sat between Bobby and Ms. Kramer and was not pleased with his big-eyes lovesick glances and his shy attempts to be an attentive host. Braun and Auerbach seemed relaxed, but talking freely about anything related to their work was a minefield in front of Ms. Kramer. Everyone felt at ease talking about the food, so that’s where the conversation eventually drifted.
“Vincent, this is amazing,” Auerbach said. “Thank you for all the hard work.”
“It wasn’t that hard,” Vincent replied.
“You’ve never been modest, Hardcase,” Braun said.
“It’s true,” Bobby said. “He started only two hours before everyone came, and he didn’t yell once.”
“If I can figure out how to make edible food, I think the Mess staff can be trained to do it,” Vincent quipped.
“What about the intense nutritional needs of younger Altereds and the supplements the adult needs?” A
uerbach asked.
“I think they can be baked into a fruit dish like tonight’s dessert,” Vincent said. “Or put it in a fruit smoothie.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Auerbach said with surprise. “We’ll have to talk about it.”
Dessert renewed praise for Vincent’s cooking skills. I was mildly praised for my coffee. The conversation loosened up then to include sports. General Braun and the Doc were avid about almost all the teams that played in town. Jenn talked about sports injuries. Remak liked strategies and Maximilian admired the forms of the athletes. Ms. Kramer’s bawdy tales about star players riveted Bobby. Vincent and I enjoyed our guests.
A Soldier’s Passion Page 20
