Code Name - Rook (Jameson Force Security 6)

“Oh, God… I’m so sorry.”

Anna waves me off again. “Actually, it all ended well. We’re together now.”

“Oh, good,” I gush, genuinely happy for them. Then I frown. “Wait… what do you mean forbidden?”

Looking over at the couch, Anna asks, “Can I sit down?”

I slap my palm to my forehead. “Yes, where are my manners? Please sit. Do you want something to drink?”

Anna declines as she moves to the couch, instead, patting the cushion next to her as she settles onto it. “Come sit. I’ll tell you all about mine and Malik’s forbidden love story, and, in return, you’re going to listen to me lobby for Cage so that you’ll give him another chance.”

I could just throw her out at this point, as now it’s clear why she’s here. I should, as I have way too much to think on as it is.

Instead, Anna intrigues me. I’m taken in by her smile and cheer, which I haven’t felt a lot of this season. So I walk around the coffee table and sit beside her.

“Okay,” she says after taking a deep breath. “Let me tell you about Malik and me. It started with two tragedies… my husband getting killed while on a mission and Malik being taken prisoner.”

“Oh my God. I am so sorry,” I exclaim, bolting up. “Your company does work that can get you killed or taken prisoner?”

Anna winces, realizing she’s not making a great case for me to stay latched onto Cage. “It’s a rarity,” she assures me.

And even though I’m appalled at just how dangerous Cage’s job is, I’m immediately right back to her first words… her husband was killed. I reach over, taking her hand. “I’m so sorry about your husband.”

“Thanks,” she replies, giving me a squeeze. “I was pregnant at the time, too.”

Jesus. What has this woman been through? I lean toward her slightly, intensely interested in her tale. She tells me all about her husband dying in Syria and Malik being captured and held for months in a hole in the ground. She had her baby girl on her own, then went to work at Jameson. When Malik was rescued, they became friends, then they eventually became more. At the time I met them, they were just friends, but both were attracted to each other.

“It’s still pretty new,” she admits. “It was just over a week ago we really admitted our feelings for each other and decided to give it a go.”

I’m fascinated about this and have about a dozen follow-up questions, all of which Anna patiently answers. They’re more focused on what Jameson does, because other than that brief glimpse of Cage crashing through a window to save me, I really have no idea. Anna is a great source of information.

When I’ve exhausted my curiosities about Jameson, and note the dangers for further discussions if I ever do talk with Cage about it again, Anna gives me a pointed look. “You ready to talk about your husband now?”

The word “husband” sounds foreign. Yet, it causes somewhat of a yearning sensation within me. “I’m guessing you want me to give him another chance.”

“I want you to listen to him at a minimum,” she replies softly. “He deserves at least some time devoted to allowing him to explain himself.”

“He’s already explained why he lied,” I say defensively. “I’m clear on his reasons.”

“Then I suspect your reticence merely has to do with whether you trust his character now,” Anna concludes.

I admit to her the revelation I’d had not moments before she showed up that, for the most part, I think he genuinely made a stupid mistake and hadn’t meant to hurt me. “But what if I’m wrong? What if I give this a shot… and we’re not just talking about dating. We’re married, so that means I give marriage an honest try. And what if it doesn’t work out?”

“But what if it does?” she counters. “And if, for the most part, you think Cage is the decent man you fell in love with—minus the lie about his profession—then why wouldn’t you take that risk?”

“I know, I know, I know,” I say, bolting up from the couch in frustration. “I’ve had this conversation with myself a dozen times just today alone. I don’t know what’s holding me back.”

“Fear,” Anna says simply. “It’s something I understand well. Malik and I both had it. Love is scary, and we’re at risk of getting hurt. You’re acting like a human, Jaime. It’s not rocket science about why you’re wary.”

“You make it sound so straightforward and easy,” I mutter.

“Not at all. Love is hard. Trust is delicate. You and Cage have work to do. I’m merely saying to sit down and see if you have the courage to give it a shot.”

I don’t know what will happen to Cage and me, but I do know Anna is providing strong validation for what I was already starting to figure out myself. I need to at least talk this out with Cage.