“Fine. Let’s talk about betrayal for a minute,” Porter opened his side drawer and pulled out a manila envelope. He tossed it at Travis.
“What’s this?” Travis asked warily. His fingers were on the envelope, but fear froze his entire body because he had a feeling things were never going to be the same again if he opened the brown pouch.
“I’ve made it no secret to Caitlin that I don’t trust her. My loyalties are to you,” Porter said. “Despite everything that has gone down, you were almost like a son to me, Travis. I helped you get Caitlin back, and yes, I used her. But she used to be in the CIA and a damn good hacker. I was willing to give herback her job. I never thought you two would last because she had betrayed you from the start.”
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Travis pulled out the contents. And what he saw could never be unseen.
The first one was of John Cooper, reclined on a parked bike. Caitlin was draped on top of him. They were kissing. The other pictures were less incriminating, but there was no doubt that they were lovers in the picture.
Travis’s chest grew tight. “I—I—knew they’d been together. This doesn’t change anything. I’ve gotten over it.” He had. But the impact of these pictures were still a punch in the gut.
“Yes. You knew about Europe. Look closely, Travis. Behind the bike is a diner and on the sign it says Richmond, VA. The date of the photo is stamped on the back.”
Travis mechanically did as he was told. The date. It was a year before they were married. Sarah told him John Cooper had always been a platonic friend. She lied. Did that change anything? His mind and heart couldn’t answer.
“Why do you have these pictures? For all I know, these photos were forged. Technology has a way of screwing up marriages,” Travis sneered.
“The man who took those photographs is retired. From what I’ve managed to get out of him, he was monitoring the activities of some agents that were suspected moles. Obviously, Cooper and Sarah were later proven innocent,” the admiral sighed. “He has more pictures. They were taken during the time she was married to you.”
“You lie!” Travis was shaking from a tempest of emotions—fury, despair, and betrayal—as his world crumbled around him. “Why are you doing this?” he roared.
Footsteps rushed into the study. “Everything all right, Admiral?”
Travis stared up the ceiling, the sting behind his eyes threatening to reduce him to a heap of broken man.
“I’m fine, Crowe.”
Porter took out another piece of paper and handed it to him. “That’s the address of the guy in Virginia Beach. Like I said, he’s retired. After a life of spying on spies, he’s a bit paranoid. You can’t get him online. He’s a trusted friend of mine, and I told him he may be expecting a visit from you.”
Travis shook his head, still reeling from disbelief. “This doesn’t change anything.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“I love her.”
“You don’t seem too sure, Travis.”
“I—love—her!” Travis gritted through his teeth, and he did. That would never change. But something died inside him.
“You owe it to yourself to find out the truth,” Porter said. “Have those pictures looked at by forensics. I already have. If it still doesn’t matter, then go ahead and marry her.”
“Don’t expect to be invited to the wedding.”
Porter winced, but inclined his head. The admiral motioned to the laptop bag sitting on his desk.
“When do you need the Carpathian coordinates?” Travis asked.
“Anytime within the next three weeks.”
“I’ll call you.” Travis grabbed the manila envelope, the contact information, and the laptop, and walked out.
Caitlin was worried.Travis didn’t come home last night after his visit with Porter. Nate assured her that Travis had called him, and he was okay, but he had things to do for Porter that couldn’t wait. The look on Nate’s face worried her, and she couldn’t help thinking that Nate was not telling her everything.
Why didn’t Travis call her?
At around 10:00 a.m., a car finally pulled up. Caitlinignored Sam’s holler and threw the door open, and was taken aback. Travis stood there so devastatingly handsome, yet achingly broken.
What happened?
