Mitrofanov. Definitely a piece of shit. “What about Kip Lunceford? Have they moved him to the new facility yet?”
“Actually, I believe his ride just left his old prison.”
A woman walked in through the door. She wore dark gray slacks and a blazer. Her straight, dark hair was cut short at chin length.
“Either that’s the best CIA lady costume around or looks like the new boss isn’t a him at all, Dylan.”
“I see that.”
The woman headed straight to them but was intercepted by Megan Stone. Did they know each other?
“The agent is nice looking,” he told Dylan.
“You on the market again?”
“Maybe,” he lied. He wasn’t ready for a relationship with anyone. A tumble in the hay might do him some good, though.
A few steps behind the female CIA agent, Phoebe entered the room. Her long, brunette locks with hints of gold flowed around her shoulders, just exactly how he’d always liked. Still did, though he rarely saw her that way since their breakup. God, why can’t I get past her?
Jason gazed at Phoebe next to his special tree. She looked more beautiful than ever.
“I can’t believe summer is almost over,” she said. “Back to school. I’m glad we’re all going to be in high school together.”
“Me, too, baby.”
“You’ll be a senior. I bet you get chosen as homecoming king.” She grabbed his hand. “And if you do, I better be your homecoming queen whether I’m a freshman or not. This is Destiny. The queen doesn’t have to be a senior, don’t you agree?”
“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself. School hasn’t even started. Who knows who will be elected king?”
“I know. Everyone loves you. You will win.”
He loved her fire. “I’ll be sure to campaign my heart out for you, honey, to get you the votes you need.”
“Lucas and Mitchell better do the same if they know what’s good for them,” she said with that smile that always made him so happy. “One more year together before you leave.” He saw tears well up in her eyes.
He’d been waiting for the perfect moment to tell her how he felt about her, though he was certain she already knew. She was his world. She was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Tonight was the time to open his mouth and tell her everything.
He took his senior ring off his finger. “Phoebe Blue, I love you. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I want you to have this. I want everyone at school and in town to know that you are mine. You are my girlfriend.”
Her face brightened as he pulled out a gold chain from his other pocket. “I love you, too, Jason Wolfe. Yes, I will wear your ring.”
He pulled the chain through the ring and then put it around her neck. “I will always love you, baby. Always and forever.”
He kissed her, the girl of his dreams.
Jason wished he could go back to that very night one more time. But he couldn’t. The innocence of the past was gone. The world had turned dark and hopeless.
Now that her deadbeat, criminal brother Shane was back in town, things were about to get even worse. Shane would be reporting to him on a weekly basis as part of his parole. Fuck.
Megan nodded and led the new CIA boss to them.
“Agent Strange, I’m Brown.” The woman held out her hand to Dylan.
He took it. “Agent Brown.”
The replacement for Black turned and offered her hand to Jason. “Sheriff Wolfe.”
He shook her hand. “Nice meet you, Ms. Brown. How do you and Megan know each other?”