and I was told to maintain course.
“And our assignment?” Eli asked. “Did you talk to him about whether he’s figured out what’s really going on with all the shit that went down when your cover was blown? I don’t need to remind you by whom.”
“He still needs us out here,” I responded firmly. “That’s all he would say. That, and it’s not safe to come back yet.”
He gripped the steering wheel and slammed on the brakes. “And you believe him?” he asked through his hard-set jaw.
“I have to,” I insisted. “He’s my brother. Despite everything else, I need to believe he wouldn’t keep me here unless it was necessary. Or else…”
“What? Or else what?” Eli urged, almost begging me to say the words. We had been having this same discussion for the past month. Every week, I had gone to touch base with my brother. And every week, he told me I needed to stay, despite his promise at the start of this assignment that, no matter what, it would only be for a month.
“Or else he’s not the man I thought he was,” I answered softly. “Who I always looked up to and admired when I was a kid.” I shook my head, not wanting to believe the words. “But for now,” I continued, maintaining my composure, “I need the routine. I need the comfort of following orders. It’s what got me through everything with Melanie. The only way I survived that was because of the discipline the navy gave me. Working for my brother’s company is a lot like that. He gave us a mission and I’m going to obey orders. Look around you!” I gestured at the refugees strolling through camp. “These people need us, Eli. They have nothing. If all I do is make one person feel safer, then this is where I belong. Not back home, but here.” I opened the door of the ATV and headed toward the large tent structure in front of us.
“Tyler!” Eli shouted, dashing out of the vehicle and catching up to me. Although he was slightly shorter than my six-foot, four-inch frame, he made up for that in build. He kept his dark hair at a sensible length, the discipline he learned in the Marines evident in his appearance. I, however, kept my sun-lightened hair somewhat unkempt. If I remembered to shave once, it was a good week. What did I care? I didn’t have anyone to impress.
“Listen, I understand following orders,” he continued. “But, at some point, you need to forget about doing what you’re told is right and do what’s right for you. From where I’m standing, you’re turning a blind eye to what your brother’s doing so you don’t have to face your problem. That’s what you did with Melanie…”
“What?” I hissed, my green eyes growing wide in shock. Eli had never been one to question following orders. In fact, he had always adhered to a strict code of ethics, but our history predated him working for the security company. I supposed his loyalty to me outweighed that to his job. “I didn’t–”
“Yes, you did! You just admitted it! After she died, you ran. You went into the navy so you didn’t have to deal with your grief! I get it, Tyler. Believe me. After my father died in the line of duty, I was so fucking angry. I hated that he lost his life to save some sorority girl.”
I nodded, remembering that case. It was splashed all over the news. I was a junior in college, and Eli was starting his third year with the Marines when the case that rocked our city for years finally came to a bloody end. Eli’s dad was a homicide detective and brought the man responsible for brutally assaulting and murdering over a dozen college females to justice. Sadly, Eli’s father sacrificed his life to save that of the man’s last victim. Eli had to sit in court nearly every day as he stared at the girl who survived, wondering whether her life was more valuable than his father’s.
“I couldn’t bear being around town because, everywhere I went, I was faced with a reminder of what he gave his life for. I ran back to the Marines, even after they offered to give me an honorable discharge to be with my family. You’re doing the same thing, Ty! You’ve never allowed your scars to heal. At some point, it will all become too much and you’ll bury yourself in