There was a long pause as the operator on the other end transferred him.

I knew exactly what the operator was telling him because I had set the security protocols myself.

“Sir,” a crisp, recorded voice on the speakerphone bleed-through said, “General Mercer’s office is classified. We cannot verify her location or status to civilian callers.”

“General?” Daniel repeated, his grip tightening on the phone until his knuckles turned white. “What do you mean, General?”

“Please hold for the duty officer,” the voice said.

Daniel looked up at me, his eyes hollow.

“You lied to me,” he said. “For six years, you let me think you were just some desk clerk.”

“I told you I worked for the government,” I said. “You decided the rest because it made you feel superior.”

Outside, the door of the second SUV opened, and my chief of staff, Colonel Harris, stepped out carrying a leather briefcase.

He walked into the house, bypassing Daniel completely, and handed me a tablet.

“The transfer of all personal assets is complete, ma’am,” Harris said. “The civil court has already processed the emergency separation order based on the security breach.”