Chapter TWENTY-SIX
Britton sat at her desk, watching the rain make its way down the window. The minutes seemed longer over the last thirty days. Time had become her enemy, and she hated it. She wanted to get through this phase in her life as quickly as possible. Britton wanted the pain to be over. She was working on a new case now, but couldn’t find the inspiration anymore.
She skimmed through the file, staring at pictures. It wasn’t interesting to her. She looked around at the other agents in the office. They were all hard at work. She opened her desk drawer and pulled out another file. She flipped open the cover. There was Jagger's face staring back at her. She smiled, longing to be the reason for his dimples. She shoved the file in her bag and straightened up her desk. She wasn’t getting any work done; she might as well just work from home for the rest of the day.
She made her way to David’s office to tell him she was heading out. He was sitting at his desk, lost in paperwork. Things had been awkward between them since the kiss. She didn’t know what to say to him, and she knew he was hurt that his feelings weren’t reciprocated. She couldn’t even apologize. She was still absolutely in love with Jagger. No one else mattered. She knocked on the open door.
“I’m heading out.”
“Before you do, Britton, can you come in here for a second?”
“Sure.”
“Shut the door.”
What did he need to talk to her about? Did something happen with the Jagger case? Was he arrested? Was he okay? Her mind raced, fearing the worst.
“Is everything okay?”
“How are you doing?” David asked.
“I’m fine, why?”
“You’ve been distant and unfocused lately.”
“I’m just upset that I wasn’t able to bring down the Harbingers.” She lied.
“I know, but you got us closer than anyone had.”
“I know.”
“And we have a dirty DEA agent in custody thanks to you.”
“Yes.”
It was true. They were able to charge Hank for conspiring with a known crime syndicate. Although, it didn’t make her feel any better.
“That’s not why I called you in here.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I think you need a change of scenery.”
“What?” What did he mean by that? Was he transferring her to another department? She liked the organized crime division. What was next: counter terrorism? White Collar Crimes?
“I know the outcome of your last case hit you pretty hard. I think it’s a good idea for you to get away from here for a bit.”
“David, I’m fine.” She wasn’t, but she didn’t want to leave Las Vegas. She didn’t want to leave Jagger again.
“You can’t win them all, kid. They want you in Washington: a week from tomorrow.”
“For how long?”
“Indefinitely.”
She wanted to argue. She wanted to fight with him, promise that she could be better, but it was worthless. She couldn’t be better. She thought of nothing but Jagger since the operation abruptly ended, and she didn’t want to think of anything else. Maybe he was right. It wasn’t like Jagger would ever take her back after what she did to him. She abused his trust. There was no getting that back.
“Okay.”
“You can take the rest of the week to get your affairs in order. I’ll let you know if we need you for anything.”
“Thank you, David.”
She turned to leave, feeling deflated.
“Britton.” He called after her.
“Yes?”
He paused, taking in the lines of her face and the curves of her body. He knew it would be one of the last times he would see her. He wanted to commit her beauty to memory. “I will miss you. You’re a good agent.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Britton didn’t stop at her desk but instead moved straight to the elevators. She would come back to say goodbye before she left. Now she just wanted to get home.
She crawled into her car, feeling her throat constrict. She was going to leave the city again, for good. This was it. Her dreams of running back into Jagger’s arms would never come to fruition. Any hope of ever being with the love of her life had vanished in an instant.
She took off toward her house, lost in thought. No. It couldn’t end like this. She needed to take matters into her own hands. She needed to get him back. She spun her wheel, steering her car into the opposite direction. She followed her memory of the route back to the warehouse. Maybe he would be there.
The ride was long, and each second seemed to drag agonizingly by. She pulled into the dirt driveway but there were no guards to greet her. She continued down the trail, her tires kicking up the dirt behind her. Britton quickly slammed on the brakes as she pulled up to the compound, put the car in park, and jumped out of her seat. She ran into the building, hoping to be met by a loving face.
There was no one there, the place was completely vacant, empty. They must have moved. She ran into the office, hoping to find a possible clue to their new location, but the only thing left in the room was a picture frame on the floor. The glass was cracked and it was covered in dust. Britton knelt down and picked it up. It was the picture from the nightstand in the cabin. Had Jagger really made the effort to steal the picture from their home, and bring it here, only to destroy it? Had he truly given up on them?
Britton felt a tear fall on her cheek. Maybe the move was coming at a perfect time. He didn’t want to see her, after all. He had held onto this picture for ten years, and now wanted nothing to do with it. She opened up the back of the frame and drew the photograph out, allowing bits of glass to fall to the ground. The glass gave off a high-pitched tone as it clattered on the concrete. She clutched the picture to her chest and listened to the chorus around her.
She remembered the sound of Matty’s laughter as Jagger flew him around the yard. She remembered the comforting words of the family when she was worried for Jagger’s safety. She remembered the embrace of her brother, the brother she assumed she’d lost forever. Maybe now she had.
She folded the picture and slid it into her pocket. It was time to go back to her house. She needed to pack. A new adventure awaited her. She would force herself to forget this place again.
Her car sprang to life and she was instantly reminded of the night of the accident. Now that she knew everything, all of the secrets, that night didn’t haunt her anymore. Now her betrayal was what haunted her dreams. Britton would have to live with that for the rest of her life. She drove on in silence.
Britton pulled into her driveway and eyed her house. In a week, it would no longer be hers. She would be back to an apartment in D.C. Good thing she hadn’t put down any roots: at least any roots that she was able to hang on to. She stepped up to her door and fished her keys out of her bag. Something yellow caught the corner of her eye. There was a daffodil in the garden. She hadn’t planted it. She didn’t remember it ever being there before. It must have grown and bloomed overnight. Unless…
She flew through the doorway and into her living room. Her heart stopped at the sight of his face.
“I had a dream about you this morning.” He said.