chapter 8

Paris POV

I can still remember the way the morning light spilled through Tara's bedroom window, casting a golden glow over her bare skin. She was sleeping soundly, her chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. Her hair was a mess, sprawled over the pillow, her lips slightly parted as if she had drifted into a dream too sweet to wake from.

I had never planned on staying the night, but somehow, I hadn't been able to leave. Not after what happened between us.

I had woken up before dawn, my body conditioned to early mornings after years in the military. At first, I had just wanted to lie there, to savor the rare stillness of the moment. Tara wasn't the kind of woman you forgot, and last night had been proof of that. It wasn't just sex—it was something raw, intense, something I hadn't felt in a long time.

I ran a hand down my face, pushing away the thoughts that crept in. I wasn't supposed to get attached. This was supposed to be a fleeting moment, a one-time thing. But as I sat up and looked at her, something in my chest tightened.

Then my phone rang.

I reached for it, already knowing it wasn't good news. No one called this early unless something had gone wrong.

"General Paris," I answered, keeping my voice low so I wouldn't wake her.

"Sir," came the voice on the other end. It was Colnel Dawson, one of my closest men. His voice was clipped, urgent. Too urgent. "We have a situation. General Howard and General Clarke were found dead this morning."

My entire body tensed.

"What?" I muttered, swinging my legs over the bed and planting my feet on the floor.

"They were taken out at their residence last night. No signs of forced entry. Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing."

I inhaled sharply. "And the suspects?"

"No leads yet, but Intel suggests this wasn't random. Someone is targeting our leadership. The Pentagon is on high alert, and command has ordered all generals to report back immediately. Your leave has been revoked, sir."

I clenched my jaw. Damn it.

I had barely been out for a few weeks, and now I was being pulled back in.

"Understood," I said tightly. "Prepare my return. I'll be there within the hour."

"Yes, sir."

The call ended, and I sat there for a moment, gripping the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white. Two generals murdered in their own homes. This wasn't just an attack. This was a statement.

I exhaled and turned my gaze back to Tara. She was still asleep, her body curled slightly on the bed. Peaceful. Unaware of the storm that had just been unleashed outside this room.

I didn't want to wake her.

If I did, she would ask questions. She would see the shift in my demeanor, the weight in my eyes. And if I was being honest with myself, I wasn't ready for that conversation.

Because the truth was, I didn't know when I would be back.

I thought about leaving a note, something simple—Had to leave. I'll see you soon. But that felt hollow. Instead, I took one last look at her, memorizing the way she looked in that moment. Soft. Beautiful. Untouched by the chaos of my world.

Then, I forced myself to stand.

I got dressed quickly, my military instincts kicking in. Boots, shirt, jacket. By the time I was ready, my mind was already on the mission ahead.

I walked to the door and hesitated.

Don't turn back. Just go.

But I did.

Just for a second.

Then I walked out.

---

Three Months Later – Military Base

The wind was sharp against my face as I stood outside the command center, my hands in my pockets, my jaw tight with frustration.

Three months.

I had thought I would sort things out in a few days, maybe a week at most. But the situation had spiraled into something bigger, more dangerous. The deaths of Howard and Clarke were just the beginning. More attacks followed, more bodies fell, and every lead we had led us into dead ends.

I had barely had time to breathe, let alone reach out to Tara.

I should have called.

I knew that. But what the hell was I supposed to say? Sorry, I disappeared after sleeping with you? Sorry, my life is a goddamn war zone, and I didn't want to drag you into it?

It wasn't fair to her.

But I still thought about her.

Every night, when the adrenaline wore off and the silence crept in, my mind went back to that morning. Back to the way she had looked, sleeping so peacefully while I walked out of her life without a word.

I wasn't sure if she would forgive me.

Or if she even wanted to.

But one thing was certain—I needed to find my way back to her. And soon.

And this time, I had hope.

My father, Richard Mickelson, wasn't just a decorated war veteran—he had connections. Powerful connections. The kind that could pull strings in the darkest corners of the government, the kind that could make problems disappear.

I had spoken to him last night, and for the first time since I was recalled, I felt a flicker of hope.

"They've kept you there long enough," he had said, his voice steady, firm. "This isn't your fight anymore, Paris. You've done your part. It's time to move on."

I wasn't sure if I agreed, but I didn't argue.

"The arrangements are already in motion," he continued. "Your formal discharge papers should be ready within the week. After that, you'll be free."

Free.

The word sat heavy in my chest.

For years, the military had been my entire life. My identity. What the hell was I supposed to do outside of this?

But then I thought of Tara.

I thought of her laughter, the way she challenged me, the way she had felt beneath me that night—like something I wasn't ready to let go of.

Maybe it was time to leave.

Maybe it was time to start something new.

"I also have another opportunity lined up for you," my father added after a moment. "The board at Horizons Tech Group has been eager to bring in new leadership. I pulled some strings—you'll be their next CEO."

I almost laughed at the irony.

From the battlefield to the boardroom.

I had spent my entire life training to be a soldier, and now I was about to become the head of one of the most powerful tech companies in the country.

It felt surreal.

But maybe, just maybe, it was exactly what I needed.

I took a deep breath, staring out at the military base that had been my prison for the last three months. Soon, I would walk away from it for good.

And when I did, I knew exactly where I was going first.

Back to Tara.