The Agent
“Simone, I’m not going to ask you again,” Logan said. He stood on the other side of the desk in one of the spare offices of the estate, decked out in his field gear. “What is his name?”
“For the last time: I don’t know,” I replied, my voice hard.
Gabriel dragged me in here, kicking and screaming, as the other agents hauled Mateo - or whatever the hell his real name is - away.
I didn’t get a chance to curse him out before Logan came in and started interrogating me as if I were a suspect.
I didn’t appreciate the disgusted curve of his mouth and livid eyes.
Even if I had information to give, I still wouldn’t tell him anything.
Logan threw his hands up in frustration. “Well, what do you know? You can’t tell me you haven’t learned one thing over the past few months you’ve been pursuing this!”
“He’s been a tough egg to crack,” I said with a shrug.
“Then, tell me about the incidents you’ve had with him. What has he done to you?”
I glanced at Gabriel who stood at Logan’s side like a loyal puppy.
I had half a mind to tell Logan to ask him instead.
After all, he was the one behind all this.
No one else knew about the time and energy I’ve invested into catching Mateo.
The fact that he would go behind my back, tell Logan, and help orchestrate this whole thing made my blood boil.
“Nothing,” I said. Technically, it wasn’t a lie. With every encounter, Mateo hasn’t actually done anything to hurt me - not severely, anyway.
Logan’s eyes went to Gabriel for verification.
“He’s attempted to kidnap her, tried to kill her three times - including the inciting incident with Rizalli - and he’s been breaking into her house,” he explained.
I leaned forward in my seat. “Wait, how did you know about the break-ins?” I asked. I’d stopped telling him about this stuff after the Vegas incident. He’d told me to drop my obsession, so I wanted him to believe I had.
“He’s not the only one keeping tabs on you,” Gabriel replied. “I’ve been checking on your camera feeds and noticed a pattern of disappearing time lapses. I’m not stupid; I knew what was going on. I just can’t believe you let him do it for so long.”
“Eventually, I was going to catch him.”
“Before or after he attempts to murder you again?”
“Did you guys not just see what happened outside? Did he look like he was going to hurt me?”
“No,” Logan jumped in. “It looked like he was about to do something much worse.”
I averted my eyes, unable to find a comeback strong enough to combat his words. I didn’t want to admit they might be right. I may not have any bruises or broken bones, but my mind was mauled with the marks of his claws.
“Look, Simone,” Logan said, his softening voice calling my gaze back to him. “I’m sorry for not taking this threat seriously sooner. I didn’t know it was impacting you directly. But, I’m on it now and I want to help. You just have to let me.”
I stared at him, refraining from spatting on his so-called “help.” I didn’t need him. I didn’t need Gabriel. I was handling this just fine on my own. Shit, if they hadn’t stepped in, maybe I would’ve actually gotten something out of him. A name, alone, was a huge step. Then, they fucked it all up.
“You’re gonna stay in a safe house for the next couple of-”
“No,” I cut him off.
Logan’s eyes pinched together. “What?”
“No, I’m not going to a safe house. No, you won’t interrogate him; I will. And no, you will not assist with this matter.”
“Simone,” Logan sighed.
“This is my case!” I yelled, rising from my seat. “Mine! And if you even think about taking it away from me, I am going to the ones above you and telling them of the negligence that started this in the first place.”
A fire I never seen before lit up in Logan’s eyes. “You wouldn’t,” he said through tight lips.
“Try me.”
The muscles in his cheek flexed as he gritted his teeth. “You are just like your fucking father,” he grumbled.
“So, I’ve been told. Now if you’ll excuse me,” I turned on my heel. “I need to head home. I’ve got a big interrogation tomorrow.”
I stormed out of the room, my heels slamming hard against the floor with every step.
“Simone,” Gabriel’s voice called after me.
I didn’t bother looking back. I kept my stride, determined to get out of here as fast as possible.
“Hey,” Gabriel said, his fingers wrapping around my arm.
“Don’t touch me!” I snapped, yanking my arm free.
“Wait, Simone, please-”
“How could you?” I yelled, ceasing my steps and turning to face him. Tears I couldn’t keep in any longer spilled from my eyes. “Going behind my back? Telling Logan of all people?”
Gabriel frowned. “Simone, I’m sorry. After seeing that look in your eye in Vegas, I knew I had to do something. And I get that you’re mad, but-”
“Mad?” I scoffed. “That doesn’t even begin to describe the pain in my chest right now. You’re supposed to be my partner - my best friend! I trusted you!”
“I know,” he murmured. “But, I was afraid of losing you.”
“Well, jokes on you, because you just have.”
Gabriel opened his mouth, but no words came out. Sorrow splashed over his face, and all his regrets flashed through his eyes.
I turned and continued down the hallway, ignoring the ache in my chest as the bond between us snapped in half.
My phone rang almost non-stop for the first few minutes on the ride home.
A few calls were from Gabriel, accompanied with voicemails filled with apologies.
One or two from my mother inquiring about where I’d run off to.
Most of them from Isabelle, worried sick after running into Logan when she’d gone searching for me in the halls.
I felt bad keeping her in the dark, but I really didn’t feel like talking right now. I’ll call her back in the morning.
By then, I’ll have downed some wine, slept a little, and shoved these feelings down the hole with the others.
I ended up turning off my phone completely to have a sliver of peace.
The entry hall of my house was as dark and empty as I felt when I walked through the door. I kicked off my heels and made a beeline for the kitchen.
A waft of woody cologne trickled through my nose, and I almost stopped in my tracks.
I glanced around the dark hall, almost hoping my senses weren’t playing tricks on me.
As I looked down, I realized I was still wearing his suit jacket.
Somewhere between the chaos, I must’ve thrown my arms through the sleeves to keep it from falling.
I gripped the lapels and pulled it tight against me.
Tomorrow, I told myself. I’ll deal with him tomorrow.
Sighing, I continued down the hall. I went to the cabinet and inspected the rows of wine and liquor bottles inside. I needed something strong to end the night with.
I reached for a bottle of Chardonnay, grabbed the corkscrew out of the drawer and drove it into the cork.
“Cheers,” I mumbled to myself after popping it open. Catching this bastard was something I’ve wanted for months now. I guess I should celebrate - even if it was while I was alone and sad.
As I brought the bottle up to my lips, a familiar chill ran down my spine. I saw a flash of something dark - like black lightning - fly over my face and pressure with the strength of a thousand men wrapped around my neck.
The bottle slipped from my hand, and shattered across the floor. The strong stench of the alcohol flooded my nose as I clawed at the leather cinched around my throat.
“You like that?” His voice was low and laced with sinister intentions. “Death feels good when you don’t see it coming, doesn’t it?”
This motherfucking bastard. How the fuck did he get out of federal agents’s custody?
I didn’t have time to ponder over the thought with his belt crushing my windpipe. I swung my foot back, driving my heel straight into his shin.
The impact forced him to step back, but his grip remained tight. “Come on, Agent,” he taunted, using his body to shove my hips against the counter, trapping me between it and him. “You can do better than that.”
My vision started to blur as I blindly patted around the counter, searching for a weapon. The sharp edge of my corkscrew brushed against my fingertips. I felt my way up to the handle, grabbed it and shoved the sharp tip backwards - straight between into his ribs.
A grunt left his lips as his hold finally loosened.
I pulled the belt off of my neck and sucked in a breath of air. I held on to it as I turned around, cocked my leg up and kicked him straight in the stomach.
He stumbled backwards, landing with a thud against my island counter behind him.
The moonlight beaming through the windows illuminated the wicked grin on his face.
“There you go,” he encouraged, yanking the corkscrew out.
A small circle of red bloomed on his white shirt.
“I knew you wouldn’t go down that easily. ”
“Crazy motherfucker,” I muttered as I took off towards the kitchen doorway. The last place I put my gun was in the compartment of the coffee table in the living room. If I could get to it, I could put a bullet in this madman’s head.
Fingers laced through my bun and gripped up the braids inside.
I shrieked as he pulled me backwards. I half-expected to meet his body midway through the fall. Instead, I fell straight on the floor.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” he said, shaking his head as he stalked towards me. “Where did you think you were going?”
I pushed myself up on my elbows and scooted backwards. My head quickly hit the lower cabinets, another dead end. I needed to get out of this tiny ass kitchen.
I looked up at Mateo as he towered over me, grinning in delight. I gave him a devious smile of my own - then, I kicked him right in the crotch.
“Shit!” He yelled as the sole of my foot hit his dick. Looks like he didn’t have all his fancy armor tonight.
I scrambled up onto my feet as he hunched over, clutching himself.
I ran out of the kitchen and into the living room. I tore out the lid of the compartment underneath the main surface of the coffee table. My fingers wrapped around the cold metal and yanked it out.