PRIVATE: A Military Romance Novel (Military Men Book 2) by Leila Haven Read Free Book Online

broke protocol and led your team astray, putting everyone in danger. You know I can’t let this go, not when the safety of my soldiers is paramount. Maybe I made a mistake giving you that promotion.”
    I took a deep breath, ready to confess all and accept the consequences. The demotion was going to hurt, especially when I’d have to explain to my mother why I was no longer a corporal. She was going to be very disappointed in me, I could picture her face already.
    “Sir, I—“
    “It was me,” Kincaid said suddenly, interrupting my speech. I shot her a questioning look but she refused to glance my way. “I saw the target slip into the corridor and I ran after him. Corporal Rafter followed me but I was caught up in the moment so I didn’t hear his warning to stop and wait for backup. It was my fault the incident happened, he did nothing wrong.”
    A million things flashed into my mind all at once. I couldn’t let her take the fall for my mistake. She was a rookie and an error of judgment like that could see her sent home and dishonorably discharged from the Army.
    It was my problem and I needed to make sure it was me who took responsibility. “Sir, Kincaid—“
    “Don’t try to cover for your new recruit,” Atoll said. His brows crinkled together with a mixture of disappointment and anger. “She has to take responsibility for her actions. Every soldier must learn that lesson at some stage, the earlier the better.”
    “Sir—”
    “I take full responsibility,” Kincaid interrupted again. This time she shot me a look that said she would kill me if I spoke up again. “I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit, sir.”
    My teeth clamped together as I fought to remain quiet. Confusion was the main emotion blaring in my head. I didn’t know what Kincaid was up to and I hated the whole situation. She shouldn’t be taking the blame for my mistake. I would never let someone take the rap for me. What was she up to?
    “Leave us, corporal. Private Kincaid and I need to have a serious discussion.”
    I shot a final pleading look at the confused woman but her gaze held steadfast staring at the major. It was against every instinct I had to walk away and let her take the fall for me.
    Major Atoll glared at me as I slowly retreated. Every footstep yelled at me to turn around and confess. I wanted to, badly. But Kincaid appeared determined to lie about the whole thing.
    “Close the door behind you,” Atoll called out, another reminder that I was done with the meeting and not invited to partake any further.
    I closed the door but I couldn’t return to my bunk and pretend everything was okay. Not when Kincaid was bearing the brunt of the punishment that I should have been receiving.
    Atoll’s assistant glared at me as I lingered, silently telling me I wasn’t welcome to loiter when my meeting was over.
    I took a walk around base, trying to find anything to take away the storm blazing inside my head. If Kincaid was discharged for my mistake I was going to have to tell the major the truth. He would have to believe me eventually so I could get what I deserved.
    It was just such a monumental fuck up. One split-second decision and the career of a soldier was left hanging in the balance.
    My feet found their way to the women’s quarters. I stood outside Kincaid’s dorm room, ignoring the curious glances of the female soldiers as they went around undertaking their business.
     

 
    *
     
    After an hour I was in panic mode. It was too long for Kincaid to still be in the meeting with Atoll. Surely he would have let her return to her bunk to gather her things before they shipped her off? It wasn’t like they would have a plane waiting just to take her home. That wasn’t how things worked in the middle of nowhere.
    I was just about to give up when she walked down the corridor in my direction. My nerves stood on end as I waited for the verdict.
    “You shouldn’t have done that,” I said. The hundred different