Chapter 15
Alysa
I knew Burke would be pissed that I never put my earpiece back in last night. I needed time to process everything Jasper had told me. And with how things turned out between us, I was really glad I’d been offline. Burke would’ve pulled me from the mission if he knew we’d spent the night together.
It wasn’t like Jasper and I had sex. Of course, we would’ve, if Jasper hadn’t turned me down. I wouldn’t have been riddled with regret as he had thought, but my body might not be ready for such a physical workout. The last thing I needed was to head back to the hospital because I popped a stitch or two.
I laughed to myself. It’d be a better story than appendicitis.
The sun was up and Jasper had somehow wriggled out from beneath me without my waking. There was no better time to touch base with Burke. I knew he had his opinions about Jasper, but mine was different. I didn’t see Jasper as a master manipulator. He sure as hell wasn’t perfect, but he was trying to do what he thought was best for his country while a cruel bastard attacked him at every turn. Who could fault him for that?
I just wish I could get Burke to see Jasper the way I do.
I giggled to myself thinking of how we cuddled all night. Maybe Burke doesn’t need to view Jasper exactly the way I do. But he could at least stop searching for evil in him. The truth was, we all have some in us, it’s what we do with it that matters.
Burke should understand that. After all, we had been accused of many things because of what we did overseas. We didn’t break any laws. We’d served our country. Did everyone agree with it? Hell no. Are there things we didn’t want to do, but did anyway? Of course. But we followed orders. Did our job no matter the risk or controversy.
Burke only knew what he read in the file and whatever he’d heard Jasper say. If he’d seen Jasper’s face when he spoke about Tabiq and what his family had been through, he might feel differently. The man genuinely hurt over what had his country had become. He wanted better for their future. What more could Burke and the Henderson want from the man? If anyone cared what my opinion was, I would tell them Jasper was an amazing person.
Not that I thought Jasper would ever search my room, but I was in the habit of hiding the earpiece just in case. Rolling over, I slipped my hand underneath the fitted sheet and pulled it out.
I might as well get this over with.Turning it on and putting in my ear I said, “You there?”
“Where the hell have you been?” Burke snapped.
“Sleeping,” I said. No need to tell him anything more than that. “I want to come and talk to you today.”
“About leaving?” he asked.
“No. I want to talk about Jasper. I think you really need to let it go.”
“LaHouse, we talked about this yesterday. That one deep conversation with him and his sister doesn’t mean we know everything about him. Hell, I have more questions now than I did before.”
This was ridiculous. It was as though they wanted to find something. “Burke, if you look long enough, of course you’ll find something. Hell, I don’t want anyone looking at me under a microscope. Do you?”
“We’re not trying to run a country,” he stated.
“You’re right, but this also isn’t our country. The Tabiqian people have suffered so much. All they want is some normalcy without having to look over their shoulder all the time.” I wished there were something I personally could do to help, but as an outsider with no influence, the best I could do was be there if Jasper needed someone to talk to.
“LaHouse, why are you defending a guy who is sending you packing? I don’t get it. I’d have thought you’d be pissed, but instead it sounds like you’re falling for the guy.”
What did he mean ‘sending me packing’? We talked about my departure last night, but that would only be after the election. Burke made it sound much sooner than that.
“I am not falling for him. Trust me, I’m doing the job I was asked to do.” You just don’t like what I’m finding out.
“That’s not what it sounds like,” Burke stated.
“What it sounds like is you don’t trust my judgement. Maybe I’m not the person you need for this job,” I snapped.
“Guess we don’t need to worry about that any longer, do we?” he replied.
“What the hell are you talking about? Are you pulling me?”
Burke chuckled. “You have just proven my point. You don’t know the man. He called me yesterday and asked that I make the arrangements to get you out of Tabiq. The jet is fueled and we will be flying out mid-morning.”
Hell no!Burke had to have heard incorrectly. Jasper hadn’t said anything about sending me home ahead of schedule. God knows he had the opportunity last night. He had to have talked to Burke before coming to my room. Why didn’t he say anything?
I felt sick to my stomach and mad as hell right now. Jasper had some answering to do. But I couldn’t just walk up to him and say, “Hey, I’ve been lying to you and want to know why you’ve been lying to me.