Page 97 of The Spy Ring

“Not really cool when I thought you were dead.” I didn’t really gaze over at Jagger in the same admiring way as my son did. My look was more like throwing knives—most likely knives dipped in poison.

“I tried to tell you that the medics were out there looking at him to see how badly the wound was. I came in here to tell you so you could go to the hospital with him if need be. But you—”

“Didn’t let you speak.” I sighed and bit my lower lip. “How about next time you start your speech with my son is alive before you tell me he’s been shot.”

Jagger nodded. “Noted.”

“So, if you’d been shot, shouldn’t they be taking you to the hospital?” I asked and gazed around David’s body trying to find the wound.

David pulled off the blanket and winced as it fell from his arm. There, on his left upper arm, the sleeve had been ripped off. A large, white bandage was taped to his upper forearm and shoulder. Streaks of dried blood ran down his arm.

“The bullet just grazed my skin. It only had to be cleaned out and bandaged. I don’t think Emma Hawthorne was as lucky,” David said as he glanced over at Alex.

“Yeah, they took my mother to the hospital,” Alex said.

“I’m sorry, Alex,” I said.

He shrugged. “She’s still my mother and I don’t want to see her hurt, but she kind of brought all this on herself.”

Truer words had never been spoken.

“I think it’s time to head home, David. It’s been a long day,” I said.

“Can Jagger come? He saved us,” David said.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my ninja-in-training.” Jagger smiled and put his hand on David’s shoulder once David stood.

“Hey, Henrik. Can you walk David out? I need to discuss something with Jagger for a second.” Henrik nodded and I watched the love of my life regale Henrik with all the tales of the day.

Once they were out the door, I turned to Jagger. He stood tall and I knew he was bracing himself for my wrath. I knew he wasn’t going to like what he heard but I wasn’t about to rip him apart.

“Thank you for helping everyone get away from that monster. I know it isn’t your job, but I want to thank you anyway for coming when I asked.”

His eyes softened and he took a step forward. “Anything for you, for David. I would do it again and again if it meant you two are safe.”

I took a breath and chewed on his words for a bit. He was telling the truth. He had come to care for David and, in his own way, he really did love me.

“But, I don’t think we can see you anymore. All that has happened today made me realize it’s best to move forward. You helped me get past what lingering guilt I had about my husband, but I need more than that. You lied. You shot my son. It seems to me you do things with good intentions that can hurt people. And, as a mother, I can’t have someone like that around my son. Goodbye, Jagger.”

I clasped his hand, staring at his blood-stained fingers as they gripped mine. But then I let go. I turned and walked out, determined never to look back.

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