"I''ll be waiting for you in my hospital room," Mansfield said, his tone insistent. "I need you toe here."


    When Lanny told him they had arrived, he quickly regained hisposure, opened the car door, and headed toward the inpatient wing.


    Mansfield was in a premium VIP suite. Whenn arrived, a man approached him. "Mr. Goodwin, Mr. Ellington is expecting you."


    With that, he led the way to a hospital room.


    Mansfield hadn''t even bothered to change out of his green camo. He was over by the window, hands behind his back, and he looked unusually grim.


    "Mr. Goodwin, you''re here," Mansfield said, looking up and gesturing for him to sit.


    "I have an urgent mission that requires me to go abroad immediately. I''m leaving Ashford City in an hour," Mansfield said, looking up.


    "I know," Mansfield''s voice was low and hoarse. "I''ve let her down."


    He picked up a nearby tablet and tapped on a photo. A gruesome image assaultedn''s eyes—several soldiers in camouge were bound, their bodies covered in shocking injuries. One had even lost an arm. The timestamp in the corner indicated the photo was from the previous day.


    "We received an ultimatum an hour ago." The veins on the back of Mansfield''s hand bulged. "If we don''t hand over the person they want within forty-eight hours, they''ll start executing the hostages."


    "Those are my brothers-in-arms," Mansfield said through gritted teeth. "I can''t just leave them to die."


    The room fell into a dead silence.


    Mansfield looked up. "I''ll tell her I''ve been urgently deployed for a military exercise, with no set return date."


    Mansfield didn''t answer. Just then, the sound of a helicopter came from outside the window. Mansfielde


    gaze


    looked up, his gaze


    sincere plea Takled with a


    care of her


    Just then, one of his men opened the door from outside. "Sir, the helicopter is here."


    Mansfield turned and walked toward the door. He paused, then turned his head with difficulty. "If I don''t make it back, please exin things to her for me."


    Ian watched as Mansfield''s figure disappeared through the door.


    Ten minutester, Eleanor was revising a proposal on herputer when her phone buzzed with a message. She picked it up and saw it was from Mansfield.


    She couldn''t help but smile. Had he figured out what he wanted to do for their date tomorrow?


    Eleanor opened the message. The content wasn''t about their date, but an announcement from Mansfield.


    "Ellie, I just received an urgent


    notice. I have to participate in a multinational military exercise immediately. The return date is undetermined. I''m so sorry, but I can''t make our date tomorrow."


    Eleanor was a bit taken aback. What kind of exercise was so urgent? He had been


    cleared for discharge, but he still needed to rest!


    "How long will you be gone?" Eleanor asked.


    "I can''t say for sure yet. Take care of yourself and Evelyn. I''ll let you know when I have news."


    Although surprised, Eleanor


    understood the responsibilities and


    duties that came with Mansfield''s position, so she didn''t press further. She replied, "Okay. Stay safe."