Page 25 of Troubled Water
“How long?” I grit out.
“At least the last six months. Sam can’t trace back before that.”
“Where?”
Cal pauses, asking, “Do you really want me to answer that?”
A hot ball of fire burns inside my chest. I duck down an alley before I hiss, “Yes, it fucking matters, Sullivan. Because if he was watching B, then…”
There’s nothing more agonizing than the sound of silence when all you want are words to make your pain dissipate. Flatly, I state, “I’m going to kill him.”
It will cost me nothing. Not a single night’s sleep. I’ve murdered people. I’ve killed on order, taken lives without shame. But this? Bringing my Bethany in as a pawn to a game she only partially understands—one she can only be fully briefed on once she marries me—I will take great pleasure in this.
“Thorn,” Cal starts.
“Can we hurry this up? I’ve got places to go and someone to kill,” I spit out.
“You can’t kill him.”
“Why the fuck not?”
He releases a beleaguered sigh before admitting, “They’re testing you.”
“What the fuck do you mean, Sullivan?”
“They’re doing this as part of your clearance reinvestigation.”
“Excuse me?” I shout.
“Now, Thorn,” he tries to placate me.
“How the fuck do you know this?”
“Sam tripped a wire,” he admits.
“Sam tripped the wire on purpose,” I fume.
“You’re right. But, Thorn, you’re in a position they need to know how she’ll react. You and I know this won’t be the last time she’ll be presented with evidence like this if she stays with you and you continue to be?—”
“Fuck that. My own fucking agency sent her pictures implying I was with your woman?” Cal sucks in a deep breath.Yeah, unable to swallow the agony of that quite down. Can you, buddy?“They dared to threaten my relationship with the only woman I’ll ever love. They caused her pain. Now it’s my turn to cause some in equal measure.”
“Thorn,” Cal’s warning just starts when the phone is lifted from my ear. I whirl around and find myself face-to-face with my boss. I don’t give two shits that I might be unemployed after this.
I throw a fist, relishing in the fact it connects with his jaw. He stumbles back, hand lifting to the red swollen spot.
I couldn’t care less the agents that follow him immediately draw their weapons on me. Instead I get right in Director McConaghie’s face and bellow, “Are you trying to ruin my relationship before I have the chance to propose to her?”
He has the good grace to look ashamed. Then he says, “We’re in the middle of a public street. Let’s take this back to the office.”
But I stand my ground in defiance of the weapons trained on me. I openly declare warfare between me and my boss. “I won’t be going back to my office if these are the kind of back alley scare tactics you’ll be using against my future wife to test her loyalty. You’d better think twice. No, you know what? Take this as myformal resignation and shove this job up your fucking ass.” Then because it was trained into me from the time I was a young boy, I tack on, “Sir.”
The agents holding me hostage in the alley waiver in the absolute confidence in my voice. Their weapons begin to lower even as their eyes cut over to see the director’s next response.
He holds his hands out placatingly. “Thorn, there’s no need?—”
I yell, interrupting him. “There’s every need! Has she ever shown any disloyalty to her country?”
“No.”
