Page 52 of Half Blind

“Arrogant.”

“No, based on your response to me on the couch, we know there is a reactive chemistry between us. What remains is which chemicals to stir in to make it hotter,” he said. “Doc Myrtle, would you like for me to make it hotter?”

“Listen here, Sir!” she said, laughing. '“You're my husband. Just like that, a man who sits in a dark room watching people has deemed you worthy of my hand, oh gallant knight. Did I ask how do you know him?”

Jared enjoyed seeing her smile. She was in fact a cute woman, bordering on attractive with the right hair and makeup, but as is, he found her to be simply, perfect. For no reason at all, he stood smiling at her. To stay on track, he answered her question about his relationship to the Archangel.

“He and I were roommates at Langley.”

“You were CIA?”

“Am,” he corrected her. “On another note, our marriage is no different from an arranged marriage. We both know why we are here. We want the same things. You have the house and land. We have a few kids. Hopefully, we can make a few more. I spoil you, and you learn to cook so I can get fat. I rent a big stupid camper for a family vacation, and we live happily ever after.”

Myrtle was squinting at him. “Cook for your damned self and stop, what do you mean, still am CIA?”

“When you make your little concoctions and send them out, my team and I were the recipients of your science,” he told her. “We get the calls, my team goes in, clears out and cleans out, then you get a few kids that we rescue to take care of and raise.”

“I never understood what happened in the middle of the operation once the Archangels are notified of situations or how the Technicians know who and where to go to make bad people take naps,” she said.

“My crew, or crews like the one I led, do the surveillance, ensure the targets are accurate, then we call it in,” he said. “Those days for me are over.”

“Who were the women who came looking for you?” she wanted to get clarity on that situation before anything else occurred between her and this new husband.

“Different crew,” he said. “All women. We went into Central America to shut down a pipeline of kids being auctioned off. However, I discovered for every two children they were placing in protection, one was being fed to the beast. I caught them, so I am being chased to keep me quiet.”

“Will you be quiet about it?”

“Too late. The wheels are in motion. All I need to do is sit still and wait,” he said.

“Sit still for how long? I mean, I work two jobs to have all of this, and you showed up with a duffel bag. How do you plan to support your family? Wait, did you say you were still working with the CIA? I mean, if you leave here needing to crawl into dark holes to pull out broken bodies and come home all fucked up in the head, you can get in your truck and get gone,” she asked, wanting to know the harsh truth.

“No, I am the new Hayseed,” he said. “Buckeye covers the top half of the state, keeping watch. As the newly appointed Hayseed, I am the Seraphim who shall oversee the lower half of the state, keeping watch on militias, religious organizations, and cultlike movements.”

“You will work from home?”

“I have an office coming. I will work from there, out of the house, so I won’t interfere with the girls’ lives,” he said.

“And Colette?”

“What about her?”

“She's terrified. The poor girl saw you and passed out,” Myrtle said, watching him as he stood. “I am really worried about her and you being in the house.”

Jared’s hand went into his pocket. He pulled out a black velvet box. Slowly, he opened it and showed it to Myrtle. Her eyebrow arched a bit, looking at the shiny stones in the case. Gently, he removed the rings and pulled her hand to his. He slipped the band and half carat ring onto her finger. He handed her a second box, which included his wedding band. Jared nodded for her to do the same for him.

“You're not answering my question about Colette, Mr. Bane,” she said, sliding the wedding band on his finger.

“Doc Myrtle, right now, you need to be worried about yourself,” he told her.

His hand slid into hers, pulling her along the hallway to the bedroom where she slept. She wanted to argue with him or even put up a bit of a fight. However, she wanted to know what it would feel like to make love to the man the Archangel had chosen to be her husband.

“Sir, just so we are clear, I don't appreciate your high-handed tactics,” she said, trying not to sound as if she were eager to rip off his clothes and ride him like a broken-necked hobby horse.

“Doc Myrtle, if it makes you feel any better, I will completely disrobe and let you have your way with me,” he said. “I'm giving like that. I also believe in sharing responsibilities equally, plus I fully support and respect you for being an independent woman. Your call, but right now, I need my wife.”

“Your wife?”

“Yes Ma'am, my wife. I'm starving, and I haven't been fed in a very long time. I want to gorge myself at the buffet. More importantly, I'm ready to make you mine,” he said, closing the bedroom door and engaging the lock.

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