Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
She gave me a startled look, like she was only just now working that out for herself. “So, it wasn’t that the operation had already begun. It was that they didn’t care.”
“I’m afraid so, Joi. Me and Rattler learned those subtleties in the Marines. You went straight into the fire pit. You had no hope of besting anyone in that agency. Manipulation is what they do. The higher in rank, the better they are at it.”
“I gave up everything. Didn’t I?” She looked devastated and I hurt for her. I really did.
“Not everything. You’ve still got your brother. And me, but as a friend. As my best friend’s sister.”
“Like when I was a kid.”
“Yeah.”
Joilyn looked up at me then, tears swimming in her lustrous eyes. “Did you find someone else?”
I didn’t want to hurt her, but there was really no easy way to do this. “I did. It was after I first came to Grim Road. Right after that night.”
“So you’ve been with her for more than a year?”
“No. I met her then, but didn’t have a relationship with her until recently.”
“So, it’s still new?” I wasn’t sure I liked the look on Joilyn’s face now. It was calculating, where that had never been part of her personality. It set off some alarm bells I wasn’t sure I liked and wasn’t going to dwell on now. I wasn’t up for that kind of emotional rollercoaster.
“It is, but it’s also cemented. I really am sorry, Joilyn. I would never have hurt you on purpose.”
“We were going to be married, Jacob. Be together forever.”
“You died. You fuckin’ died!” That came out harsher than I wanted it to, but I felt guilty enough without this. “I know I let you down, OK? It seems to be my superpower. I’ll help you in any way I can. I’ll make sure you have a safe place among people you can trust. I’ll have Lemon get someone at Grim to assess your skills and vouch for you with ExFil, if that’s what you want. Maybe Scout can help with that since he knows you. I’ll do everything I can to help you. But I love Gina.”
“Didn’t you love me once too? Doesn’t our past count for something?” She stood and crossed to me, putting her hand on my chest.
I caught her wrists and gently put her at arm’s length. “Don’t, Joilyn. I’m not yours to touch.”
“You should be, though,” she said softly. “You said when you left we’d get married when you came home. I thought I’d have time to finish my service before you were out, then we’d have more in common.”
I narrowed my eyes. This wasn’t… this wasn’t the Joilyn I knew. Sure, we’d both changed, but I was getting whiplash with her emotional swings. “You knew going in it was a one-way trip. Why are you upset now?”
She shrugged. “Maybe because the man I love found another woman?” Now she looked angry. “Look. I get you needed to have a fling. I did too. But we can be back together now. Besides, I had you first. I should get to say if you stay with me or not.”
“What’s wrong with you, Joi? Not only are you not making any sense, you’ve set down some very unreasonable expectations.”
Taking a step toward me she reached out once more. Slowly this time until she lay one hand on my chest over my heart. “I just want us to be a team, Jacob.” She looked at the door once and took another half step forward, lowering her voice like she was afraid someone would overhear us. “Listen. If you come back with me, we can work together. We’d be unstoppable. Just think of all the good we could do. Together.”
“Is that what this is about?” I straightened from the desk, forcing her to take a step backward before she realized she was giving ground. “To get me back in the CIA?”
“Why not? They said you were good. And, like I said, we could work together. Me, you, maybe even Rattler. It’d be like old times.” It hadn’t missed my notice that her tears had dried. I wasn’t delving too deep here because I honestly didn’t want to know. Instead, I make a mental note to tell Lemon not to let her anywhere near the Grim Road compound and have a talk with Rattler about my suspicions. I had no doubt now what had happened, and it involved the CIA getting someone inside Grim Road to get an idea of how many of us and exactly who was there. After all, most of us had been affiliated with the CIA in some form, especially once we started running black ops.
“No. It won’t.” I moved around her to the door, intending to leave.
“I still love you, Falcon.” She stated the words with such conviction, I couldn’t tell if it was an act or not. “I always will. I’m willing to die for you.”