Chapter 14 Summary:

Colonel Daniel Weaver arrives in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, en route to meet Mark Peltier, a former elite Green Beret. After a brief ride to a waiting helicopter, he’s flown by Captain Taylor to St. John, where a military driver named Private Caprice escorts him to Peltier’s property.

At the gate, Weaver is informed via intercom by a woman named Lisa that Mark is not home. Lisa, who rents a cottage on Mark's property, is initially cautious and armed, but she allows Weaver inside the perimeter after verifying his ID.

Inside the cottage, Weaver and Lisa have a guarded but increasingly open conversation. Weaver reveals he’s there to speak with Mark about an important matter related to national security, not just veteran benefits. Lisa expresses concern about Mark being taken away, especially given his close bond with her daughter, Becky. Weaver assures her that the decision to accept the mission will be entirely Mark’s and emphasizes how rare and valuable his skills are to the country.

Eventually, Lisa relaxes, revealing that the gun she had shown Weaver was not even loaded. She offers him coffee while he waits for Mark’s return, signaling a shift from suspicion to cautious trust.