Dane resented being called to meetings. He was the one who should do the calling. Hadn’t he earned the right after his years of faithful service to his country?

The senator apparently didn’t think so.

Instead, the man insisted that Dane show up on demand like some faithful knight of old called to serve the prince. Only the senator wasn’t a prince, and Dane wasn’t a knight of old. No, he was a man who would rise to an elite rank in a matter of weeks. It was a done deal.

Or so the man had assured him just two weeks ago. Yet something wasn’t right.

Senator Micah Langdon swirled his brandy in a thick cut crystal glass. The trappings of wealth that he’d tugged close couldn’t hide the fact he was still an uncouth rebel at heart. “We’ve got a mess on our hands, Nichols.”

“I’ve got it handled.” He barely resisted the urge to spit the words.

“I don’t think you do. My intelligence says these charges could stick.”

No question about whether he did what was alleged. Interesting that the senator didn’t seem to care. Maybe that meant there were things in that man’s past that could be useful to him today. He’d have to dig deeper.

“You have one week to fix this. Make the charges disappear before the media gets wind of them. The last thing they need is the illusion you’re unfit for duty.”

Dane’s back straightened at the insinuation. “I shouldn’t have to fix this. Innocent until proven guilty.”

The man chuckled, but it grated. “Those are nice words, but words the media doesn’t care to embrace.”

“I know. I’ll get it taken care of.”

“See that you do, because I will not push your nomination through to commission without the assurance that this will not erupt in my face.”

“It won’t.” No need to tell the man that surveillance was well in hand. His niece was a fool. She might think there was security in her apartment, but she didn’t know anything. It had taken two minutes to slip into the apartment. Small, dank place that it was.

Service entrances were such an easy access point, especially when one had the right credentials. So easy to manufacture with today’s technology. She’d never know what happened or who was there, but she’d know someone was. He had a staff of men who would do his bidding to move up the ranks with him. It was a simple trade: their futures for hers.

Maybe in time she’d understand she’d messed with the wrong man, but he doubted it.