Page 88 of The Spy Ring

THIRTY

Jagger

“Fuck the sun,” I said just before I moved a thin sheet of plywood in front of the grimy window.

It was a bright day with low humidity. Some would say a flawless late summer Chicago day. People were out walking and enjoying the beautiful weather. A perfect day to crash a wedding.

I think I ended up coming home to my old apartment around three in the morning. I would have stayed out all night, walking each street until I found Emma Hawthorne, if I hadn’t tripped and fallen. My knee hurt but not enough to quit. But the blood gushing from it made me realize it was wiser to start again once the sun came up—and after I bandaged up my leg.

When I got up this morning and had some coffee, punched a few holes in my old apartment’s wall, I got my old tuxedo on with the full intention of inviting myself to Henrik and Morgana’s wedding. If Emma was still in Chicago, I knew she would be near that ceremony and I wasn’t about to let her get away.

But then I realized I didn’t even know where the new location for the ceremony was being held. And, I had no way of finding out. I wasn’t an agent anymore. Perhaps, I could head over to the original location of the ceremony to see if Emma Hawthorne was around. But first, I came to my new place to drop off a few boxes.

That’s when Tiffany moved into my head and refused to leave. Seeing all those happy people walking on the sidewalk, especially the couples, just heightened the fact of how much I messed up.

I could be at that wedding with her, protecting her and watching David with pride. Instead, I let my fear plant little devices in her place which caused me to get fired and lose her.

I chuckled to myself, it’s like I wanted to fuck up my life so bad that no one would be left in it. It’s not like I could help my mom when I was little and I still had some guilt for Ben, maybe I wasn’t worthy of anyone as wonderful as Tiffany and her son.

I moved to the floor, lying back. Perhaps the rigidity of the floorboards was what I needed. I didn’t deserve comfort or warmth.

My pants vibrated and I reached in my pocket to take out my phone. I sighed but answered as I saw who was calling.

“Hi, Evaleen.”

“Jagger. Where are you?”

I pushed up onto my elbows. “At my place, why?”

“You’re needed here, at Aria’s place. There’s a wedding that’s been interrupted by a Jewel,” she said.

That got me to sit up. “What? You mean Emma.”

“Yes, that Jewel.”

I was ready to hop to my feet and run there when images of Tiffany telling me she never wanted to see me again flickered to light.

“I don’t work for the ITA or anywhere in the government, remember?” I said.

“I don’t care if you aren’t an agent anymore. You are needed here. Tenn obviously botched this up and she got in. Jagger, you have to come here.”

I gritted my teeth, refusing to jump just because she said so. “If Tenn fucked up, then that’s on him. Everyone has made it quite clear that I’m not wanted.”

“Yes, you are wanted.”

I stood and began to walk around the room. “Did Katlin tell you to call me? Or maybe Tenn got scared and needed someone used to being in the field. Because I know that—”

There was a shuffling sound and then someone else got on. “Jagger, please. She took David.”

I didn’t even blink before responding to Tiffany. “I’m on my way.”

Shoving the phone into my pocket, I ran out the door. Sweat rolled down my neck but I didn’t care as I raced through the streets to find a cab. I offered to pay him more if he got to the wedding location in less than ten minutes.

By the time I made it to the building where Evaleen had texted me the address, only eight minutes had passed. I ran into Tenn just outside. He was also dressed up in a dark suit and tie.

“What happened?” I asked.

“What are you doing here?” he grumbled, and I knew he was beating himself up inside.

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