Page 31 of Love and Loyalty

But Izzy’s demeanor changed. Perhaps she heard her after all, and those three words had struck a chord.

Chapter Seven

Izzy

“Just face it!”

It had been three days, and Drew's words still gnawed at Izzy. The echoing tone of her voice was still sad, and those three words were still sharp and accusatory. Drew had called her a coward to her face, and she didn't do anything about it.

Why? Is it because she just couldn't confront her in the moment? Or maybe it was the fact that she knew Drew was right, but she was too proud to admit it.

They had seen each other several times, even after promising to be professional, yet she was playing the blame game, exempting herself, even though she was equally wrong.

Of course, her emotions undeniably influenced her professional demeanor, manifesting in subtle yet telling ways. She overcompensated by adopting an unnecessarily icy persona around her subordinates when Drew was present, attempting to conceal her true feelings.

Her gaze would instinctively sweep through crowds, searching for a glimpse of her, betraying her longing. Whenever their mission was jeopardized and Drew took risks to ensure itssuccess, her concern for her safety was obvious, etched on her face.

And when Drew's genuine smile illuminated the room, her own world momentarily lost its vibrancy, as if nothing else mattered. These tiny, telling moments revealed the depth of her emotions, and she knew Drew was aware of them, too.

Then why did she lie to her face? Why did she pretend she wasn't in this with her? Why did she let her wallow alone in a pool of agony? These questions haunted Izzy as she went about her daily routine.

But what options did she have? Even if she acknowledged her feelings for Drew, how would it change their situation? They couldn't keep hiding their affection forever, constantly looking over their shoulders, fearful of being discovered by their peers.

With some already harboring suspicions, surrendering to Drew's requests would only put them in greater danger of being discovered, potentially jeopardizing their careers.

It was obvious she felt a deep sense of calm when she was with Drew, but was it worth blowing her life over and risking it all? Was their relationship worth forfeiting her career, her reputation, and her future?

Surely it should be left as what it was, those few incredible nights of life changing sex that Izzy would never forget a single second of.

She envisioned the chief commander's face, furrowed with disappointment, as he revoked her honors and badges, his voice tinged with sorrow and a hint of anger at her downfall. And her fellow soldiers who had trusted and respected her, how would they react to the news?

Izzy shook her head vigorously at the thought of it. No. She couldn't let it happen. Confusion wracked through her as she considered her options, she was literally between the devil and the deep blue sea.

“Lieutenant Colonel?” The voice jerked her into reality. She opened the door to see the lieutenant, who had been hospitalized a few weeks ago. He seemed to be back on his feet, happy and delighted.

Isabel had been so engrossed in her head these few days that she forgot he had been dismissed. “Good afternoon, Lieutenant Colonel,” he said gleefully.

“Good afternoon, Lieutenant; I'm glad you're doing better.”

“I am, ma'am. The commander in chief sent me here. He wants to see you immediately.”

The news shook Isabel slightly. Had her fears already come into existence? She turned to the lieutenant. “Thank you. I'll be with him shortly," she said with a smile.

As she composed herself, she also gathered her thoughts, steeling herself for whatever lay ahead. She was prepared and resolute, ready to brace whatever the chief had in store for her.

She came out of her quarters and headed for the chief’s office. A few people greeted her, and she answered them briefly before hurrying inside the office.

“Good afternoon, sir.” She saluted.

“Good afternoon, Isabel. At ease.,”

That was a relief. She wouldn't be asked to stand at ease if the matter was delicate. She was too engrossed in her thoughts to notice that the chief had started talking.

“Lieutenant Colonel, are you okay?”

“Yes, sir, I'm all good,” she replied, now paying attention.

“There’s an urgent operation I need you to carry out. I need your best soldiers on this mission. It's a raid, and it's highly dangerous. There's a camp north of here about a few miles that's harboring terrorists. They are preparing for an attack on the neighboring towns tomorrow, so we need to act tonight.” He paused to let his words sink in.