Chapter 372
[ 495 words ]
Chapter 372:
“K.C.,” she began, her voice quiet but clear. “Can I ask you something personal? About the Colonel?”
His eyes met hers in the mirror. “If it’s something I can answer, ma’am.”
She took a breath. “I saw a picture. In his office at the base, hidden in a secret compartment underneath his desk. It was an old Polaroid of a beautiful woman with dark hair, and a much younger Jarrod was visible in the background.” She paused, then asked the question directly. “Who is she?”
K.C.’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. It was a small, almost imperceptible movement, but Caroline saw it. His calm facade cracked just for a second. His eyes flicked away from the mirror.
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to, ma’am,” he said, his voice suddenly stiff.
He was lying. She knew it instantly.
“Don’t lie to me, K.C.,” she said, her voice gaining a sharp edge. “Is she his ex-girlfriend? An old love?”
𝘕𝗈𝗏𝗲𝗅s 𝗶𝗇 𝘵𝗋𝘦𝗇𝗱 𝗼ո 𝘨𝖺lnо𝘃𝗲ls.𝘤o𝘮
“No,” he said, too quickly. “The Colonel doesn’t have… exes. He’s always been focused on his work.”
The answer was vague, evasive. It was a wall, and she was going to break it down.
“But the photograph—”
“Ms. Thompson,” K.C. interrupted, his tone becoming formal, almost harsh. “The Colonel’s past is complicated. A lot of it is classified.”
He was using his security clearance as a shield. It was a dismissal, a clear signal to drop the subject. But it only confirmed her suspicions. This woman wasn’t just a casual acquaintance. She was a secret. A secret important enough for Jarrod’s most trusted man to lie about.
Her mind raced. If she wasn’t an ex, then who was she? Why was she so important?
The car slowed, turning through a pair of massive, wrought-iron gates. They were entering the grounds of the Romero Estate. The manicured lawns and towering oak trees seemed to mock the turmoil in her heart.
K.C. pulled the SUV to a smooth stop in the circular driveway in front of the imposing main house. He cut the engine, the sudden silence amplifying the tension in the car.
“We’re here, ma’am,” he said, his relief almost palpable.
He got out and came around to open her door, his movements efficient, professional, and desperate to end the conversation.
Caroline stepped out into the cool afternoon air. The house loomed over her, a stone fortress of secrets. She watched K.C. retrieve her small overnight bag from the back. She wasn’t going to let this go.
She walked over to him as he closed the trunk. She kept her voice low. “K.C. Just tell me one thing.”
He froze, his back still to her. He looked like a man trapped.
Her voice was barely a whisper, but it carried all the weight of her fear and uncertainty. “Did he love her?”
K.C. didn’t answer. He didn’t even turn around. He just picked up her bag and started walking toward the front door of the mansion.
“You must be tired, ma’am,” he said over his shoulder, his voice strained. “You should get some rest.”
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