Page 18 of Acting on Instinct
“That is, in fact, a very real interpretation of my behavior,” Ty agreed.
“What’s another interpretation?”
“My orders were to assist the CIA. The mission was legal. If the mission was illegal, I could have turned it down. I understand this line of questioning. I put myself through this questioning. I didn’t want to be involved at all until I met Kira, and then I was all in.”
“Continue.”
“White chose me because she thought that Kira and I would fall in love quickly and naturally. And she was correct. The first time I met Kira, I felt the connection, and that made everything worse in my mind.”
Dr. Banyon lifted a single arched brow. “Because?”
“I believed White was correct that I would fall in love, and so would Kira. I was told that after the mission, I’d no longer have contact with Kira, so we’d both be heartbroken. I was going to get hurt, and that comes with my job. I never wanted to harm Kira.”
“And yet you are her secret boyfriend. Outside of Echo, you don’t socialize as a couple, and she doesn’t post about you on social media, leaving her status as single.”
“Because there was an external issue with her family that would make a public relationship impossible.”
“That still exists?” Banyon asked.
“To a much lesser extent than before the mission, but yes.”
“Kira’s family is Qatari.” Banyon furrowed her brow. “At Iniquus, we function as a family, similarly to how you are now in the Echo brotherhood.”
“Yes, ma’am. This is one of the reasons that I’m here today. I like that model and want to continue working in that kind of framework.”
“Kira is a unique calculation for Iniquus. She is known to Iniquus through Lynx and Gator, and I have the story of Kira’s bravery and yours.”
Ty said nothing.
“We wish Kira well.”
Ty said nothing.
“You must understand that if your relationship continues, and you were to work with us, Kira comes under the protective wing of Iniquus, and this has diplomatic implications for the United States. I am merely making you aware of this issue. For example, we know that her Uncle Nadir was going to introduce Kira to the man who was to become Kira’s husband. And that man was, in fact, your target at that compound. Once you learned that, was that your incentive to kill him?”
“I acted on orders, ma’am. My emotions made no difference one way or the other.”
“Kira’s Uncle Nadir has shown up in various ways in many Iniquus missions, and it is always on the side of the bad guy.”
Ty sat stoically.
“You’ve been Kira’s boyfriend since the mission, so not quite two years.”
“That’s correct.”
“What does Kira’s uncle think of your dating her?” Banyon asked.
“He is not aware of me.”
“Tell me why.”
“Because it’s not my choice,” Ty said. “That choice belongs to Kira.”
“Did she tell you when she might reveal your relationship?” Banyon asked.
“If we were to become engaged.”
Banyon tilted her head. “Is that possible in the near future?”
