The Alliance by Shannon Stoker Read Free Book Online Page B

day or two and will hopefully help with your cause.”
    This was the exact sort of information Mia wanted to know—­how the small gift would help—­but Flo had given her so much to think about that she didn’t have the urge to ask. There was nothing this woman would keep from Mia and if that small gift was meant to stop the injustices in America, that was all Mia needed to know.
    â€œEnjoy your lessons,” Flo said. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
    â€œGood-­bye,” Mia said.
    Flo walked off. Bryan and Jesse followed her. Mia debated walking back to the employees and speaking with Andrew and Carter about their recent behavior. Open and clear communication. Instead she decided to focus on Flo’s other advice. Mia needed to ask herself some hard questions and not be afraid of the answers.

 
    UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE
    HarperCollins Publishers
    ....................................
    Chapter 12
    I thought I saw the worst carnage of my life covering the war stories; I now see the error of my thoughts. We have yet to encounter a single living soul. Every area of DC is filled with corpses. The soldiers I traveled with are cleaning up the dead, but I am of little use to them. Whatever happened here is equal to, if not worse than, the terrors of war.
    â€”­The journal of Isaac Ryland
    Confrontation was never something that Grant avoided. However, between trying to placate Ian until he officially passed down the grand commander title and dealing with Roderick Rowe’s questioning of his situation, Grant was forced into avoidance.
    He walked through one of the secret passageways he had built to the east wing of his mansion. He had once thought the large area would house all his servants, but next to none of them desired to live on his property. Once he was grand commander that would change. Grant planned to follow Ian’s lead and take many women as private wives. Technically they were government property, and since Grant would be the American government they would become his property. He even planned on stationing some ser­vicemen in his home in order to keep everyone in line. It would be a nice lifestyle lift. One a man of his wealth and stature deserved.
    He made it farther into the east wing and started to realize why Dr. Schaffer had summoned him. Roderick’s yelling echoed through the halls. Ever since the man had been severely injured during Amelia’s escape he’d lost his short-­term memory, completely forgetting the fact that he was aiding a young woman in escaping the country. Thus far Grant had successfully convinced the man he had been in a car accident outside the capitol and Grant was caring for him out of generosity. That story was wearing thin.
    â€œWhere is my son? Why won’t you let me go? I need my phone,” Roderick yelled.
    Grant took a breath before entering the room. Roderick was trying to pull himself out of his bed, but the double leg casts would make it impossible to stand. Dr. Schaffer was cowering away from the irate gentleman.
    â€œWhat’s the problem?” Grant asked.
    Rod took a few breaths and stared at Grant. The past few weeks had seemed like a standoff. Rod didn’t appear to want to reveal what he knew just as much as Grant wished to keep his secrets. It looked like the boiling point had come. Rod narrowed his eyes and pressed his lips together.
    â€œWhere is my son?”
    â€œCarter said to expect his arrival early next month,” Grant said. “But between us I expect him sooner.”
    Rod did not respond or break eye contact.
    â€œDr. Schaffer,” Grant said, “you appear a bit rattled, why don’t you take a break?”
    The doctor nodded his head and left the two men alone. Grant closed the door and pulled up a chair. He smoothed out his yellow and brown striped shorts and matching yellow polo before crossing his legs. He would hate to see his outfit