“No. We’ll be lucky to see each other at all.” He sounds like he lost his best friend which is so unfair.
“Would you prefer Inottake the job?” My head tilts and he shrugs.
“Do you want it?”For chrissakes, why mention it if he’s against it?
“Are you asking me to choose between my career and you?”
“Am I?” His brows raise.
Where the hell is this attitude coming from? “Are you going to continue to answer my questions with one of your own?”
“Are you?”
“No, for fuck’s sake.”What just happened?This fight isexactly why we need some time apart.
Working for Patten is the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m going to take it. If we’re meant to be and he really loves me, he’ll wait.
Chapter 29
Dean
In the bustling new concourse of LaGuardia airport, I stand under the atrium trees and intertwine my fingers with Sky’s. Soon enough, she’ll disappear beyond the security gate and leave me, perhaps forever.
Reading my mind, she squeezes my hand. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
But will she? Saving the world from a nuclear winter was difficult. Building a life together should’ve been way easier. What the fuck did I do wrong? We’re in love, dammit. Why the hell is she leaving me?
Swallowing hard, I kiss her one last time, walk under a huge snowflake-like sculpture, and make my way to the parking lot. In my condo, zombie-like, I dress in blues, and drive to work. At the first stoplight, I think about blocking her number, so she’ll have to do her break-up in person.
While I consider this and other childish tactics, my phone rings, but I don’t pick up. I can’t talk to anyone right now. I’m too damn fucking lost.
In the precinct for the first time in weeks, I report to my sarge who directs me to my captain’s office. Beside him, O’Brien and the FBI director stand and shake my hand like I’m some kind of celebrity.
“We’ll speak more on this, son.” After my boss’s boss leaves me and the Feds alone, I spend the better part of the day giving a verbal account of the nuclear attack.
I leave out the parts of our sleeping together but judging by their sly glances, our relationship is no secret.
Standing now, I yawn, stretch, and eye the two men. “Now that we’re about finished, did you find the Russian and her lapdog?”
Colin frowns and shakes his head. “Tommy left on his private jet before we could stop him, but my sources say Francine’s as good as dead.”
I nod. “And Charlie?”
His brows raise. “No longer your concern. The kid gave up a lot to help us and will be well taken care of.”
“How about Mack, the head of the terrorists? Did you arrest him?”
“He’s our top priority.”
“That’s a no, then?” Jeesh. I know it’s only been a couple days, but I expected more progress.
The director frowns, glances at his subordinate, then nods. “Excellent segue. We’ve spoken to the commissioner and he’s rubber stamped your transfer to the JTTF. You in?”
A no-brainer, I nod. “Yes, absolutely. When do I start?”
“We have some paperwork to fill out, but how does two weeks sound?”
“Perfect. Thank you, sir.” As I start torise, a firm hand rests on my shoulder.
