Chapter 21
For the last two months, I’ve been planning to propose to Bethany with a trip back to Texas first so I could do so with the people she loves the most as well as give me the opportunity to tell her father I plan on marrying his daughter.
I don’t plan on asking anyone but my B for anything.
I enlisted Libby’s help because despite Bethany being his daughter, Libby may know Linc McCallister’s state of mind better than any other person on the planet.
After all, they were the reason the other survived a kidnap and rescue aboard a cruise they had each taken over a decade ago.
A cruise Bethany’s mother never came home from.
I know Bethany wears her mother’s wedding band around her neck like a talisman, so I wasn’t sure if her father was planning on giving the man she loved the corresponding ring.
Should I pick out an engagement ring to compliment it or find an entirely new set?
I decided on a set she could wear all the time with her work in construction.
If she wants her mother’s ring reset, we could make it into a pendant.
Libby has been happy to act as the go-between and is thrilled for both Bethany and me. Now, she’s calling me to let me know someone has been taking incriminating photos of the two of us. Sniffling, she tells me, “I’ve let Cal know, Thorn. He’s already analyzed them.”
My jaw clenches, and I growl into the phone, “Why didn’t you come to me first?”
“Because I went to Cal.”
Then why didn’t Bethany come to me? I wonder as I storm out of the jeweler with Bethany’s rings the same afternoon I’ve touched down from my trip to MIT, where I’ve recruited a savant hacker into doing contract work for the Agency.
“You haven’t been here. Remember?”
“Remember? How can I forget? This trip was three times as long as I expected.” God, I’m going to have my hands full with this new recruit to the Agency.
A mild admiration fills me. Leanne Miles is no pushover.
She’ll be a great addition—after I teach her who the fucking boss of this team is.
Focusing back on Libby and the photos, I demand coldly, “What does he have to say?”
“He said to call him.”
After a quick goodbye, I dial Cal. His first words are, “Go buy a burner and call me back.”
Fuck. This isn’t going to be good. I stop at the closest store that sells them, pay with cash, and immediately ring him back. As soon as he picks up and verifies it’s me, he asks, “Why does your current boss have a hard-on for you?”
I’ve barely taken two steps down M Street and almost run into a tourist. She started reaming me out. My weak “Excuse me?” was both to her and Cal.
She flings her hand up at me, but he keeps going.
“Yeah. He’s monitoring your every movement outside the office, Thorn.
I sicced Sam”—Sam Akin is Cal’s cousin-in-law and one of the world’s foremost hackers—“on it. He’s got you tagged with some kind of tech that would be undetectable.
Fortunately, Sam’s better or more diabolical, depending on how you look at it, than the people you have working in your labs. ”
“How long?” I grit out.
“At least the last six months. Sam can’t trace back before that.”
“Where?”
Cal pauses, asking, “Do you really want me to answer that?”
A hot ball of fire burns inside my chest. I duck down an alley before I hiss, “Yes, it fucking matters, Sullivan. Because if he was watching B, then…”
There’s nothing more agonizing than the sound of silence when all you want are words to make your pain dissipate. Flatly, I state, “I’m going to kill him.”
It will cost me nothing. Not a single night’s sleep.
I’ve murdered people. I’ve killed on order, taken lives without shame.
But this? Bringing my Bethany in as a pawn to a game she only partially understands—one she can only be fully briefed on once she marries me—I will take great pleasure in this.
“Thorn,” Cal starts.
“Can we hurry this up? I’ve got places to go and someone to kill,” I spit out.
“You can’t kill him.”
“Why the fuck not?”
He releases a beleaguered sigh before admitting, “They’re testing you.”
“What the fuck do you mean, Sullivan?”
“They’re doing this as part of your clearance reinvestigation.”
“Excuse me?” I shout.
“Now, Thorn,” he tries to placate me.
“How the fuck do you know this?”
“Sam tripped a wire,” he admits.
“Sam tripped the wire on purpose,” I fume.
“You’re right. But, Thorn, you’re in a position they need to know how she’ll react. You and I know this won’t be the last time she’ll be presented with evidence like this if she stays with you and you continue to be—”
“Fuck that. My own fucking agency sent her pictures implying I was with your woman?” Cal sucks in a deep breath.
Yeah, unable to swallow the agony of that quite down.
Can you, buddy? “They dared to threaten my relationship with the only woman I’ll ever love.
They caused her pain. Now it’s my turn to cause some in equal measure. ”
“Thorn,” Cal’s warning just starts when the phone is lifted from my ear. I whirl around and find myself face-to-face with my boss. I don’t give two shits that I might be unemployed after this.
I throw a fist, relishing in the fact it connects with his jaw. He stumbles back, hand lifting to the red swollen spot.
I couldn’t care less the agents that follow him immediately draw their weapons on me. Instead I get right in Director McConaghie’s face and bellow, “Are you trying to ruin my relationship before I have the chance to propose to her?”
He has the good grace to look ashamed. Then he says, “We’re in the middle of a public street. Let’s take this back to the office.”
But I stand my ground in defiance of the weapons trained on me.
I openly declare warfare between me and my boss.
“I won’t be going back to my office if these are the kind of back alley scare tactics you’ll be using against my future wife to test her loyalty.
You’d better think twice. No, you know what?
Take this as my formal resignation and shove this job up your fucking ass.
” Then because it was trained into me from the time I was a young boy, I tack on, “Sir.”
The agents holding me hostage in the alley waiver in the absolute confidence in my voice. Their weapons begin to lower even as their eyes cut over to see the director’s next response.
He holds his hands out placatingly. “Thorn, there’s no need—”
I yell, interrupting him. “There’s every need! Has she ever shown any disloyalty to her country?”
“No.”
“Ever fell prey to a honey trap?”
“No, Thorn. You’re right.”
“Have I? Have I ever fucked some hostile agent? Releasing our national security secrets in pillow talk?”
The agents’ heads are flipping back and forth between us faster than a tennis volley between Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.
“No. Thorn, you’re right. It’s just—”
“It’s everything!” I jab a finger in his direction and sneer. “You will call Bethany in and explain what happened.”
He sputters. “I’ll do no such thing.”
“Then my resignation stands.” I move to shove by him, noting the admiration I’m garnering from his team. Whether it’s because I’m refusing to stand for his underhanded bullshit or because of the fact I’m protecting my woman, I couldn’t care less. The fact is, I’m not playing.
Everything to do in my life with Bethany will come first. Now. Always.
Forever.
I’ve reached the mouth of the alley when McConaghie shouts, “Fine! Bring her by the office. I’ll explain.”
Shifting my jaw back and forth, I only pray she’ll forgive me enough to listen to the bastard. There’s only one way to find out.