Page 82 of A Secret and a Lie
“Dammit, Ford.” Jackson’s eyes flash, and that’s the only warning I get before his fists slam against the desk. “Marrying her wasnotpart of the op.”
I’ve been avoiding his calls for weeks, dodging him at every opportunity. I got him what he asked for; I delivered Genevieve and her journal on a silver platter, but that’s where my duties ended. I don’t owe Jackson or the federal government anything else.
“No.” I smirk. “That bit was a bonus just for me.”
Really, it was a bonus for meandGen.
Our unfinished business binds us together tighter than the marriage license I had forged with her signature. While I’m not sure why she never showed up in Logan Circle that night, there’s time for me to glean that information from her. That’ll be easier to do when she’s in my home.
The last five weeks have been challenging, ensuring that the media was on my side, and fully bought the narrative that Genevieve Watts was really Genevieve Crawford. Once it was clear that her attorney was incompetent, it took some time for me to retain Stafford Langfeld and get him up to speed on things. Now that he’s officially representing my wife, it should be clear to the government that fucking with Gen is outof the question.
Holding Jackson’s gaze, I announce, “I’m out. I quit.”
My government-issue nine-millimeter clangs sharply as it hits the desk atop the papers I just presented, followed by my badge, the shiny gold metal of the FBI shield catching the fluorescent lights.
We both knew this moment was coming, but the look on his face sweetens this moment more than I ever thought possible. I’ve waited too long to leave the FBI, and my undiluted joy is felt tenfold as I imagine smoke coming out of his ears.
Jackson’s expression contorts as his entire body coils like a viper preparing to strike, but his fangs don’t scare me. “We can still nail your ass for obstruction of justice, Crawford.”
I snort. “Try it.”
He’s right, though; I’m a criminal. I broke the law for her, and if she never learns of the lengths I’ve gone to, and even if she casts me aside, it’ll all have been worth it.
Jackson doesn’t realize they could nail me for a hell of a lot more than just obstruction. Falsifying government documents and forgery are my bigger concerns, but there’s also coercion as well as breaking and entering to consider. Good thing I have the funds to cover my ass.
Whoever said that money doesn’t buy you happiness never had any fucking money. Because that shit just bought me a marriage to the only woman I’ve ever wanted to be with.
Life has a funny way of rearranging your journey. After @dc_d0ll left me hanging, I went on to do two more tours with the Marines, and the six years after that with the FBI. Genevieve Watts was supposed to be the end of that fucking chapter for me. Instead, she diverted the road right back to her.
Turning on my heel, I stride for the door to his office. Just as I’m reaching for the handle, his voice carries through the small room. “That whore’s cunt must be diamond encrusted.”
I pause, still facing the door, my fingers curling into fists as I attempt to stop myself fromassaulting a federal agent, which is what he’s attempting to bait me into. Forcing my hand around the doorknob, I twist, propelling my legs to move.
Her soul is what’s diamond encrusted, sparkling and flawless. But he doesn’t deserve to know that, not that he’d believe me if I told him.
Navigating the maze of hallways, breakrooms, and bullpens, I make my way to the parking lot, where Stafford is going to be waiting for me. But when I reach my black SUV, it’s not my lawyer waiting with James, it’s Drake.
“Did he blow his top?” my best friend asks as I approach the two men. It strikes me that there are approximately a hundred and fifty cameras watching this exchange right now, but that’s Drake’s problem to deal with. He knows what he’s doing.
I snigger. “If I had to guess, he’s currently on the phone with Richard Aubrey and Percy York, learning just how angry he’s allowed to be.”
Wanting to say more, I wait until James has retreated inside the vehicle, though I know he’d keep my confidence. James was my grandfather’s driver before he was mine. While he’s loyal to the Crawfords, I trust no one but Drake and Stafford when it comes to Genevieve.
Once he’s out of earshot, I add, “The Justice Department can be as pissed as they want, but the only charge they’re threatening to slap me with is obstruction, and that won’t stick. I’m more concerned about Gen. You and I both know they’re going to come after herhard.”
My clout and exorbitant bank account keeps me safe from some of the darker tactics the Bureau might’ve been tempted to sanction. A dead billionaire is notable and would’ve made an even bigger splash than a deceased government official. Especially when that dead billionaire happened to work for you and still has plenty of friends inside the J. Edgar Hoover Building who’d be all too happy to talk to the press.
My last name keeps me alive, but it also keeps my wife alive. Since word of our union has beenconvenientlyleaked to the news and gossip outlets, that grants her an additional layer of protection. The dead wife of a prominent businessman would generate a substantial amount of bad publicity; I’d make sure of it.
The tension in my neck threatens to strangle me, but I won’t letit. Gen needs me to fight for her, even if she isn’t aware of the numerous dangers that lurk in the shadows.
Drake’s eyes dart from side to side for a moment before landing on mine again. The same raw look that I saw the day De Luca died is reflected back at me, but beneath that, there’s a sliver of fear that I’ve never seen from him before. He lowers his voice until it’s barely audible, even standing directly next to him.
“They went after her because York wanted to crack down on corruption, right?”
I nod, and he continues, almost as quietly as a spider, his lips barely moving.
“What if there’s more to it?”
