Chapter 5 Trapped By Jonathan

• "Of course. The moment David Miller married into the Morrison family, you became an asset worth monitoring. We knew eventually Alexander Kane would surface again. Men like you always do." Jonathan walked to his desk, pressing a button on the phone system.
• "Sarah? Could you join us, please?"
• David's blood turned to ice. Footsteps in the hallway, familiar click. The conference room door opened, and Sarah walked in.
• She looked unharmed but shaken, her party dress wrinkled from travel. Her eyes found David's immediately, relief and confusion warring on her face.
• "David? What's going on? These men said you were in some kind of trouble.."
• "Sarah." David's voice was barely a whisper. "Are you hurt?"
• "No, I'm fine, but I don't understand what's happening. Mr. Blake said there were people trying to hurt you, that I needed protection.."
• "Protection." Jonathan's voice cut through their reunion. "Which brings us to the terms of our agreement, Alexander."
• David kept his eyes on Sarah, memorizing her face. After tonight, everything would be different. She would know who he really was, what he'd done, the blood on his hands.
• The woman looking at him with love and concern would be gone forever, replaced by someone who knew the truth.
• "What terms?"
• "Simple. You work for me. Officially, legitimately, as head of security for Crimson Industries. Sarah keeps her position, her career, her life. You get to protect the woman you love while doing work you're uniquely qualified for."
• David finally looked at Jonathan. "And if I refuse?"
• "Then Sarah learns some uncomfortable truths about the man she married. About Alexander Kane's war crimes, his body count, the things he did in service to causes that no longer exist." Jonathan's smile was razor-sharp. "She also learns that her husband's death was faked, that he's been lying to her every day for three years, that their entire marriage is built on deception."
• Sarah was looking between them, understanding dawning in her eyes. "David? What is he talking about?"
• Jonathan pressed another button on his phone.
• The conference room's wall screens lit up with images…satellite photos, military records, classified documents. Alexander Kane's greatest hits, displayed in high definition.
• "Or," Jonathan continued, "she can continue believing she married a man named David Miller. A good man who made some difficult choices to protect the people he loved."
• David stared at the images on the screens. Damascus. Kandahar. A dozen other operations where Alexander Kane had written his name in blood and fire.
• Sarah would see them all, understand exactly what kind of monster she'd been sharing a bed with.
• Unless he played Jonathan's game.
• "I need time to think."
• "Of course. But not too much time." Jonathan walked to the window again, hands clasped behind his back like a general surveying a battlefield. "I'm afraid the situation is somewhat urgent. You see, Alexander, you're not the only ghost who's been resurrected recently."
• The wall screens changed, displaying a new image. Security camera footage from what looked like a prison facility. The timestamp read three hours ago.
• David watched himself..,his own face, his own body…moving through corridors with deadly efficiency, taking down guards, breaking through security checkpoints. But it wasn't him.
• The movements were different, the tactical approaches subtly wrong.
• "Jake Morrison escaped federal custody tonight," Jonathan said conversationally. "Killed six guards in the process. Very messy, very public. By morning, every law enforcement agency in the country will be looking for the surviving members of Ghost Squadron."
• David's chest tightened. "Jake was in federal custody?"
• "Oh yes. Has been for weeks. We've been very cooperative with the authorities, providing intelligence about known associates, operational histories, potential hiding places." Jonathan turned back to David with triumph in his eyes. "Congratulations, Alexander. You're now a wanted terrorist."
• The screens showed more footage..Jake's escape, the dead guards, police bulletins already being transmitted nationwide.
• David's photograph appeared alongside Jake's, both labeled as armed and extremely dangerous.
• "Fortunately," Jonathan continued, "Crimson Industries has significant influence with federal law enforcement. We could make all of this disappear, provide you with legitimate cover, even help you bring Jake in safely."
• Sarah was staring at the screens in horror.
• "David, is that you? Are you...?"
• "All you have to do," Jonathan said softly, "is say yes."
• David looked at Sarah's face, saw the moment she truly understood that nothing about their life together was real.
• The love in her eyes was already changing, becoming fear and betrayal and something that might have been grief.
• His phone buzzed. Text message from Marcus Rodriguez:
• Assets in position. Awaiting orders.
• David had a choice. Accept Jonathan's deal, keep Sarah safe and ignorant, become a corporate soldier in a war he'd never wanted to fight.
• Or embrace Alexander Kane fully, let Sarah see exactly who she'd married, and burn Jonathan Blake's empire to the ground.
• He looked at the screens showing Jake's escape, at Sarah's terrified face, at Jonathan's confident smile.
• Then he smiled back.
• "You know what, Jonathan? You're absolutely right. I do need to make a choice."
• David pulled out the secure phone, speed-dialing Marcus's number.
• "This is Ghost Six. Execute Phase One. All targets are authorized. Crimson Industries is now hostile territory."
• Jonathan's smile faltered. "Alexander, what are you—"
• "Sarah," David said, not taking his eyes off Jonathan, "I need you to get behind the desk and stay down. This is about to get very loud."
• The building's fire alarm began to wail as explosions echoed from the floors below.