Page 3 of Dustin
“What the hell was that?”
“What?”
“What you said to Madison. You can’t seriously still be pissed over something that happened five years ago. Let it go, Dustin,” Lucas states flatly.
Feelings don’t have a time limit or a date of expiration. I can be pissed for as long as I want. Also, this isn’t some small issue that I can just forget. Usually, I don’t think about it or remember it, but seeing Madison brings up all the memories I buried. All the things that I would have liked to forget.
“Stay out of it, Lucas,” I tell him before walking in.
We both head for the elevator. I push the button, and when it opens, Clara’s inside. She grins when she sees me.
I usually don’t hook up with people I work closely with, but I made an exception with Clara. She’s really hot, and she likes me. What more do I need? We’re not dating—just two friends involved in a mutually beneficial sexual relationship.
“Hey, Dustin,” she greets us when we get on the elevator.
“What’s up, gorgeous? How’s work treating you?” I question with a flirty smile.
“It’s been a little stressful. What do you say about meeting up later and helping me unwind?” she asks suggestively.
She’s bold; I’ll give her that, especially since Lucas is standing right next to us. I grin. A woman that knows what she needs and isn't afraid to go for it is sexy.
“We’ll see,” I tell her with a wink.
She grins and then steps out onto the third floor. We’re heading up to the fourth and last floor of the building. I pointedly ignore Lucas’s disapproving smile.
I have other things on my mind.
What could we have to discuss at the meeting that would require the presence of Madison Thrash?
Chapter 2
(Madison)
______
Forgiveness.
It’s a luxury we only offer to those closest to us—our loved ones—the people who are an indispensable part of our lives.
It’s how I know Dustin doesn’t care about me anymore. He doesn’t need or want me in his life. If he did, he would have found it in his heart to forgive me. One would think five years are enough to move on, but it seems Dustin intends to stay stuck in the past.
And honestly, I can’t blame him.
“Hell no!” I tell my dad.
“Madison,” he says gently.
General Michael Thrash is one of the most powerful men in the United States. I grew up watching him move up the ladder in the military world.From a lieutenant in the army to a sergeant and finally a general. Now, he’s in charge of the United States Special Operations unit. I don’t know much about the agency's operations and activities, except that it’s an elite organization that takes care of serious international problems.
With that said, I have no idea, and neither do I understand what my dad is proposing to me right now.
“You want me to do what exactly?” I ask in disbelief.
“The organization has been trying to squash a particular terrorist organization for months now. They’re active all aroundthe world. So far, we’ve been able to take care of them on some continents, but we need more information about the terrorist activities in specific countries—for example, Portugal. The agency has no contacts there. Their law enforcement has been uncooperative, so we’ll have to send one of our agents there to scope things out and find out anything they can.”
I nod.
“Yeah, dad. I got all that. It’s the other part that’s incomprehensible,” I say.
